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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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" In my imagination I am transported to the home of 
my youth, and^seated around the fireside of those whom 
I shall never forget/ '—Page 33. 



M E M O I R 

OvA cj-ic-&fA ?>a-.j \ /tip 



OF 



MR. RALPH ISHAM BROWN. 



LATE PRINCIPAL OF THE 



FEMALE SEMINARY IN PAWTUXET, R. I. 



BY BRADLEY MINER, 

u 
Pastor of the Baptist Church in Woonsocket } R. I. 



il For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 
Paul. 



PROVIDENCE: 
II. H. BROWN 25 MARKET SQUARE. 

1835. 






Entered according to an Act of Congress, in the year 
1835, by Bradley Miner, in the Clerk's Office of the. 
District Court of Rhode Island. 



Z-4.Z3 



v*> 



^ INTRODUCTION 



It is not presumed that the following Memoir will 
be as interesting to those who were unacquainted with 
Mr. Brown , as many similar works already before the 
public. He died so young that his powers of mind 
were but partially developed, and lived so much in re- 
tirement that his efforts to do good were comparative- 
ly few. It cannot be expected that a life so short, 
and spent principally in the retirement of study, 
should furnish incidents sufficiently numerous and im- 
portant to make the work very interesting. It will 
therefore be enquired why the work is published. We 
reply, it is designed principally for the friends of Mr. 
Brown, and to them it will possess an additional in- 
terest, from their acquaintance with him. Again, for 
the reason above stated, hundreds will read the work, 
and we hope be benefitted by it, who do not possess those 
works which are more interesting. 

In justice to Mr. Brown we remark, it is probable 
he had not the most distant expectation that his writ- 
ings would ever be published. His Letters were has- 
tily written, and his reflections in his Diary were the 
plain and simple overflowings of his heart when in 
retirement. If he had known these writings would 
be published^ he would have been more particular in 

a2 



VI INTRODUCTION. 

their composition ; but we doubt whether they would 
have been more interesting. They now appear in all 
their beautiful and touching simplicity. We have 
made no other alterations than such as do not affect 
the sentiment, by correcting such comparatively trifling 
errors as escaped the notice of the writer in his haste. 
The little book is sent forth as a messenger of 
mercy, with no pretensions to greatness, but with the 
hope, on the part of the writer, that it will do good. 
And the writer will feel himself justified in having 
given it to the public, if, through its instrumentality, 
some careless sinner shall be awakened to the necessity 
of preparing to die, some cold ; heartless professor shall be 
aroused to faithfulness and devotion, by the holy life of our 
departed brother, or some Christian comforted in view of a 
death bed of such glorious triumph. B. M. 

Woonsocket Falls, Sept. 1835. 



MEMOIR, &c. 



CHAPTER I. 

Introductory Remarks — His Birth-Place— -His Conver- 
sion — Habits of Study, &c. 

When men who have been extensively 
known and applauded for their learning, or pa- 
triotism or wealth, are removed from the world, 
we feel justified in inscribing their names on the 
page of history. But we have given such 
names too great ascendancy over those whose 
lives have been eminent examples of the tri- 
umphs of the cross. We have presented to the 
world too prominently, deeds of mere worldly 
valor. The life and death of the individual 
who has lived almost unknown to the world, 
may be, and often is ; a more fit subject for the 
admiration and imitation of others, than the 
deeds which have so often filled the world with 
wonder. To us the wranglings of the popular 
assembly, the deeds of human butchery, or the 
scenes of voluptuousness, have no charm, though 



8 MEMOIR OF 

so universally considered the proper theme of 
him who would write for the benefit of mankind. 
But we love to contemplate the power and 
benevolence of Divine grace, as exhibited in 
the life and death of the devoted Christian. 
Nor does it diminish our admiration that the 
individual was young, and little known to the 
world. Religion often appears most lovely in 
the Christian whose heart has not been filled 
with the conflicting interests of the world ; 
whose piety, kindled at the altar of God in re- 
tirement, has not been forced to burn dimly, by 
coming in contact with the adverse elements of 
the world. What the poet has so sweetly said 
of the gem and the flower, beautifully describes 
the religion which sends forth its brightness and 
its fragrance fa*r from the gaze and applause of 
the multitude. 

" Full many a gem, of purest ray serene, 
The dark, unfathom'd caves of ocean bear ; 
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, 
And waste its sweetness on the desert air." 

So Divine grace has made more marvellous dis- 
plays of its holy energy in the cottage than in 
the palace. We invite the attention of the 
reader, in the following pages, not to the re- 
nown and prowess which multitudes so warmly 
admire, but to the joys and sorrows of the 
Christian. We invite his attention to the vie- 



^RALPH I. BROWN. 



tories of all conquering grace, the triumph of 
the believer over the world, the heavenly peace 
of the soul. 

Mr. Ralph Isham Brown was born in 
North Stonington, Con. 'November 20^1811. 
He was the second son. of Christopher Brown, 
\vho died about three years before his son. Capt. 
Brown was a farmer, and Ralph for several 
years was trained to the same employment. 
The farm which has been handed down from 
father to son for several generations, is one of 
those rural retreats which are calculated to im- 
press the mind favorably with the adorable 
perfections of that God who is seen in all his 
works. In the city or populous town and vil- 
lage, the young mind is constantly occupied 
with the ever-changing and often demoralizing 
scenes of society. But in the country the youth 
sees more of God and less of man. The beau- 
tiful and magnificent objects of nature are well 
calculated to enlarge his imagination and soften 
his heart. Many of the greatest and' best men 
received their first impressions among the trees 
and brooks and hills of their fathers 7 farms. 
And much of their characteristic excellence-was 
owing to these early impressions.. So the im- 
mortal Pollock, who in describing his own 
birth-place and early residence, has given us a 
picture of the romantic spot where the subject 



J MEMOIR OF 

of this Memoir spent the years of his childhood . 

"In humble dwelling born, retir'd, remote, 
In rural quietude ; 'mong hills and streams, 
And melancholy deserts, where the sun 
Saw, as he pass'd, a shepherd only, here 
And there watching his flock ; or heard 
The plowman talking to his steers — his hopes, 
His morning hopes, awake before him smiling, 
Among the dews and holy mountain airs ; 
And fancy color'd them with every hue 
Of heavenly loveliness." 

As a part of this description must be mention- 
ed the brook and the grove where Ralph in his 
boyhood, with his companions beguiled many 
long hours in youthful sports. Here in summer 
they listened to the sweet music of the feathered 
songsters, or plucked the wild flowers of the 
beautiful grove, or caught the unwary of the 
" finny tribe," as they glided through the clear 
waters ; and here in winter they sported upon 
the smooth surface of the frozen brook. An 
anecdote is related of Ralph in one of his sports, 
which illustrates his courage and his affection. 
While they were playing, one of his compan- 
ions broke through the ice, and holding on to 
the edge, called out for assistance. No one 
dared venture to the spot but little Ralph. 
He, though the youngest, immediately ran and 
rescued his companion. But there is another 
fact connected with this spot, which gives to it 
now a mournful interest, and to which we shall 
again allude in this work. That fact is, the 



RALPH i. BROWN. 11 

grave of Ralph is near this same grove, by the 
side of this same brook. The waters still roll 
on in their murmurings, the trees still wave 
their lofty tops, the birds still " carol over head," 
but, alas ! for him who once gave life and joy 
to the scene. He is still there, but how chang- 
ed ! Changed as all that is bright and lovely of 
earth must soon be. Changed from life to death. 

In the spring and summer of 1822 there was 
a powerful revival of religion in North Ston- 
ington, during which hundreds were brought to 
the knowledge of the truth, and to these days 
of blessedness have looked back with the feel- 
ings of the Psalmist, when he said, c Oh that it 
were with me,' &c. 

During this revival Ralph became hopefully 
pious and united with the first Baptist church 
in his native town* We regret that there is no 
record of his religious exercises at this time, 
which might be presented to the reader from 
his own pen. But this deficiency is in some 
measure supplied by the recollections of his 
friends. One of these recollections shows the 
interest with which he regarded even the place 
where he found peace in believing. He was 
riding in company with a friend, when pointing 
to a spot at some distance, he remarked, " I 
shall never forget that place, for it was there I 
first found pardon and began to live from spirit- 
ual death." 



12 MEMOIR OF 

At the time of his conversion he was but; 
eleven years old, and we cannot forbear a re- 
mark upon so pleasing an instance of early pie- 
ty. Religion is always lovely. It is pleasant 
to see the aged sinner, who has spent his best 
days in rebellion against God, turning from the 
error of his ways, 

" While the lamp holds out to burn." 
But there is a greater interest and loveliness in 
youthful piety, described by the poet when he 
says it 

" Fairest in the youngest shows, 
t And yields the sweetest fruit." 

There is nothing to be lost by embracing reli- 
gion early in life, while everything may be lost 
if it is neglected. He who " seeks first the 
kingdom of God and his righteousness," has the 
plain and unfailing promise that •' all things shall 
be added.' God has said, " those that seek me 
early shall find me." To him there is no un- 
certainty ; while he who seeks God late, may 
find him and may not. The young Christian' 
commences life every way prepared to enjoy it, 
while he who neglects religion, lives a stranger 
to its consolations and its supports. Religion is 
the balm which God has provided for all the 
woes of life, the sovereign remedy for all its ills. 
He who is early pious, lays up in store this 
spiritual medicine, and thus gains an important 
ascendancy over him, who resolves to brave all 



RALPH I. BROWN. 13 

the storms of life without a shelter, to suffer all 
its ills without a medicine, and to endure all its 
woes without any alleviation. In this respect 
who does not see the advantage of becoming 
early religious ? Who would not seek God early 
and seek first his kingdom and his righteous- 
ness ? But when we take into the account the 
further difference, when we see one with all his 
present enjoyment of a " hundred fold in this 
life," living with the prospect and more, with the 
unfailing promise of glory, immortality and eter- 
nal life, the other living a stranger to real enjoy- 
ment here, and with no better prospect than 
indescribable and eternal wo hereafter, who 
would not choose early piety ? If the neglect 
of religion were only the loss of present enjoy- 
ment, he is guilty of unpardonable folly who 
neglects it. But how supreme the guilt and 
folly of this neglect, when it is no less than 
constant exposure to eternal ruin ! Let the ex- 
ample of our departed brother, who secured the 
hope of heaven at eleven years of age, success- 
fully admonish those, who farther advanced in 
life, are standing 

"On slippery places, while fiery billows roll beneath." 

Mr. Brown for several years after he profes- 
sed religion, attended school during the winter, 
and spent the summer in laboring on his father's 
farm. During this period he collected as many 
books as possible, and spent every leisure mo- 



14 MEMOIR OF 

merit in reading and studying them. It was his 
practice when he came in from the field, to take 
up his book and spend those few moments which 
usually precede and follow the taking of meals, 
in committing it in course. He thus endeavor- 
ed to improve to the best advantage those short 
seasons which are always allowed as a respite 
from labor ; and as the fruit of this laudable 
practice, we have heard him repeat large por- 
tions of some of the Epistles and other books. 
It is a wrong impression which most persons 
have, when they suppose they cannot learn un- 
less they devote their whole time to the subject, 
and this in some literary institution. This is 
desirable when it is within the reach of one who 
thirsts for knowledge. But the same object 
may be attained by patiently persevering in the 
course pursued by Ralph. Not an individual 
can be found in all our land who has a good 
excuse for continuing in ignorance. There is 
not one who may not find as much as five mu> 
utes preceding and following each meal. Now 
let us see how much time for study this will 
amount to in one year. It will be a half hour 
for each day, three hours for each week, not 
reckoning the Sabbath, and one hundred and 
fifty-six hours in a year. Now it is thought that 
six hours close application to study is enough 
for any one in a day, and that he will learn as 



RALPH I. BROWN. 15 

much to devote only this time, as to study more. 
We have then in our calculation from the one 
hundred and fifty-six hours, no less than twenty- 
six days of hard study. This is worth vastly 
more than one month of constant application to 
books, because then the mind is burdened with 
so much, it retains in the memory less ; but in 
the other case, learning a little every day, the 
mind easily retains it, so that the month of study 
in this case is improving the time to the best 
advantage. How much then may be learned 
by pursuing some regular system of studying a 
few minutes every day. It will amount to a 
great deal in one year, but a vast amount in ten 
years. This was the course pursued by the 
subject of this Memoir, and his success greatly 
recommends it to the reader. 

It was also Ralph's custom to remember every 
text from which he had heard a sermon preach- 
ed, and some useful reflections suggested by it. 
At the time of hearing the sermon it required 
but a few moments labor, but every sermon ad- 
ded to his stock of knowledge. A short time 
before his death he offered to name to the writer 
every place where he had heard him preach, 
with the circumstances and the text selected for 
the occasion. As these seasons were quite nu- 
merous, and at intervals of from five to six years, 
it reouired more than ordinary attention andpow- 



16 MEMOIR OF 

ers of recollection to perform it. It would be 
well if the habit were general, of remembering 
the text of the preacher, and some of the most 
prominent and useful remarks. For many hear 
with so much indifference as to be wholly unable 
to remember what they have heard. They re- 
member the impression made on their minds, 
they know they have heard a good sermon, but 
they cannot tell a word that was said. This prac- 
tice requires but little labor, and would richly re- 
pay that labor by the store of scriptural learning 
it would treasure up. There is another impor- 
tant advantage, and that is, the strength it gives 
to the memory. It is the habit of remembering 
which enables us to remember. Mr. Brown 
was a pleasing example of this remark. The 
excellent memory which he possessed was not 
a natural endowment, so much as the fruit of 
meritorious industry. He had bestowed partic- 
lar attention upon that wonderful faculty by 
which we are enabled to recall past events, and 
as the reward of his labor he could do it with 
astonishing facility and correctness. 

Pursuing this course till he was sixteen years 
old, he acquired a valuable fund of knowledge, 
derived from the Scriptures, and some excellent 
works of which he had gained possession. Among 
these was Dwight's Theology, which he very 
much admired, and of which we have heard him 
quote, from memory, large portions. 



CHAPTER 11. 

From the age of sixteen to the lime of his leaving Ham- 
ilton, to take charge of the Ladies' Seminary in Paw- 
tuxet. 

From the ap;e of sixteen he acted as an in- 

o 

structor for two or three years. He then en- 
gaged himself as a clerk in a store, where he 
continued for a few months, but feeling his in- 
clination for books too powerful to be easily re- 
sisted, he determined to gratify his desire by 
studying one of the professions. That of the 
Law we presume he never sincerely thought 
of. The Ministry he had for a long time 
thought to be his duty, though perhaps few, if 
any except the writer, knew his feelings on this 
subject. He had told us repeatedly, for several 
years previous, that he was convinced God had 
called him to the great work of preaching the gos- 
pel to his dying fellow-men. And afterwards that 
his object in becoming a merchant was to obtain 
the means of pursuing his studies. When he 
left the store, two reasons induced him still to 
neglect what he knew God had solemnly en- 
joined upon him. He had for some time been 
engaged in the business of the world, associating 
with gay and thoughtless companions till he had 
lost the enjoyment of religion, and was less dis- 
*b2 



18 MEMOIR OF 

posed to obey the commands of God than he 
might otherwise have been. Again, his sense 
of the duties, trials and responsibilities of the 
sacred office made him shrink back from it. 
And well he might, though not so far as to neg- 
lect his duty. No heart, which has not been 
called to bear up under the load, can tell the 
weight which rests oppressively on the mind of 
him who, while he inquires " who is sufficient 
for these things ?" is constrained to say, " w T o 
is me if I preach not the gospel.' 5 The gos- 
pel ministry has its peculiar joys, we admit, 
but it has trials for the faithful minister which 
nothing but the grace of God can enable him to 
endure. The ministry, faithfully attended to, 
presents nothing that is flattering to the pride 
and ambition of the youth. But generally it is 
one continued scene of self-denial, incessant toil 
and bitter suffering. We rejoice that it is so, 
and hope no one will ever take upon himself 
this high trust till he is willing to renounce the 
world and " have no home but Heaven." It 
was this view of the subject that induced our 
brother to hope he might yet be excused from 
preaching the gospel, and with these feelings he 
commenced the study of medicine. But he 
soon left it to obey his part of that commission, 
u Go ye into all the world and preach the gos- 
pel to every creature." Some have charged 



RALPH I. BROWN. 19 

Mr. Brown with being too changeable in his 
feelings, because he changed his profession. 
But we can easily, from personal knowledge, 
vindicate him from this charge. From child- 
hood his mind was fixed upon the duty of pro- 
claiming the news of salvation to a lost world, 
and all his changes from one employment to 
another was only an effort to get away from 
what he knew to be a self-denying and cross- 
bearing work. Like Jonah, who took ship to 
Tarshish to release himself from a command 
which it was unpleasant to obey, Mr. Brown 
was willing to pursue any honest course that 
might excuse him from preaching the gospel. 
But, like the prophet, he found it useless to 
resist the calls of God, and at length entered 
cheerfully, with his whole heart, upon the work 
of winning souls to Christ. 

When God plainly points out the path in 
which he would have us travel, when, by his 
Word, his Spirit and his Providence he plainly 
says, " this is the way, walk ye in it," it is safest 
and wisest immediately to obey. But plain as 
this principle is, multitudes conduct contrary to 
it. Many young men who know what duty is, 
are unwilling to do it till driven on by the judg- 
ments of God. Such should remember that 
their opposition will be fruitless. If God has 
called, they must obey. If not without chas- 



20 MEMOIR OF 

tisement, they will have it. Gocl will lay his 
hand heavily upon them till he is obeyed. Nor 
ought they to suppose, as some have done, that 
these chastisements are evidences of a call to 
the ministry. They are evidences of disobe- 
dience. They prove conclusively that he who 
should have said " here am I, Lord, send me," 
fought against duty till driven to its perform- 
ance. 

The time of Mr. Brown's engagements of 
which we have spoken, was spent in the village 
of his native town. While residing here, he 
left the path of duty and wandered far into sin 
and vanity. He became associated with many 
young people, and with them yielded to the 
temptation to neglect religion for the world. 
As many will read this who knew him at the 
time to which we allude, it is necessary to ob- 
serve that he always regretted this portion of 
his life, and with bitter repentance sought for 
pardon. He has often expressed this to us, and 
particularly a short time previous to his death. 
He told us that, though he was guilty of nothing 
but what most young persons supposed to be 
innocent, he lived without God. Young Chris- 
tians are often deceived in their estimate of the 
guilt of spending much time in trifling conver- 
sation and vain amusements; they too often con- 
sider these the innocent diversions of young 



RALPH I. BROWN. 21 

people. But they may rest assured that it is 
all incompatible with true religion, and sooner 
or later they will bitterly lament their folly. 

Mr. Brown related to the church of which 
he was a member his exercises and views of 
duty, and was by them licensed as a preacher 
of the gospel in the commencement of 1830, 
and he was then 18 years of age. He spent a few 
months following in the vicinity of home, preach- 
ing in different places with great acceptance, and 
then left for the Baptist Literary and Theo- 
logical Seminary, Hamilton, New York. We 
shall be obliged to trust mostly to his Diary*and 
Letters for his history in connexion with this 
Institution. The circumstances under which the 
student pursues his studies in the seclusion of a 
seminary, are unfavorable to that variety of ex- 
ercises and incidents calculated to promote his 
growth in grace and give an interest to his 
letters and other writings. The Pastor has 
much to awaken religious feelings. He must 
preach several times a week, and is of necessity 
spiritually enlivened by his efforts to benefit 
others. He mingles constantly with society, 
and is thus influenced to be guarded in all his 
conduct. His intercourse with the afflicted, the 
tempted, and the rejoicing, promotes his own 
spiritual enjoyment, and gives an interesting 
liveliness and variety to his conversation and 



22 MEMOIR OF 



his writings. Not so with the student ; with- 
drawn from society and spending most of his 
time in study, he is tempted to carelessness in 
his spiritual duties, from the fact that he is un- 
observed except by the eye of brotherly kind- 
ness and charity. And he is tempted to cold- 
ness of religious feelings by the sameness of 
each day's labor, i 

If, therefore, the writings of our dear departed 
brother breathe so much of Heaven under all 
these discouragements, what would his writings 
have been had his piety been kept alive by all 
the influences which press upon the pastor? 
Pious students (and all students ought to be 
pious) should remember that in the college or 
the seminary they are forming characters for 
life, and contracting habits which will be likely 
to cling to them through all future years. There 
is, therefore, great need of watchfulness and 
prayer, when the consequences of neglect must 
be so severely felt. With reference to this duty 
our brother writes in his diary — 

" Monday, April 30, 1830.— This morning 
I came to the conclusion that it was necessary, 
for my advancement in holiness and in my 
studies, to have some rules for the regulation of 
my conduct. Hours for study, prayer, reading 
and meditation ; for exercise and relaxation from 



RALPH I. BROWN. 23 

study. I have tried to follow these rules to-day ; 
but in some, I have it to lament, I have failed. 
Our class held a prayer meeting this evening. 
I felt, for the most part of the time, uncommon- 
ly stupid. Oh ! I am satisfied that I am at a 
great distance from God. Oh Lord, wake up 
my drowsy powers and call them forth into more 
vigorous exertion. Let me live with an eye 
single to thy glory." 

The resolutions which follow were found 
among his papers, and are probably those to 
which he refers above. A copy of them, con- 
siderably amended, was found in his vest pocket 
after his death, where he carried them, doubt- 
less, that he might have them at hand to read 
often. We insert them to show the efforts he 
made for mental and spiritual improvement, and 
to induce others to do the same : 

" Rules, which, with the assistance of the 
Spirit of God, I mean rigidly to follow 
during this week. 

1 . I will rise at half past four o'clock and 
pray to God, while dressing, that he will enable 
me rightly to improve the day. 

2. I will spend the time till five o'clock in 
reading, meditation and prayer. 



24 M1MG1R OF 

3. I will spend the time after prayer, till 
the bell rings for labor, in reading the Bible and 
other good books, and the time of labor I will 
spend in studying my grammar and in commit- 
ting a verse from the Scriptures. 

4. I will spend the time from the ringing of 
the bell for breakfast until 7 o'clock, in break- 
fasting, exercise, &c. 

5. From seven till half past seven, I will 
read history, or something useful. 

6. 1 will commence my classical studies pre- 
cisely at half past seven, and study till eleven, 
stopping five minutes every half hour to let my 
mind rest. 

7. I will go praying to recitation, and try 
while there to bend my mind to my lesson and 
to the remarks of my teacher. 

8. The time from twelve to half past twelve 
I will spend in exercise and relaxation from 
study. 

9. I will commence my classical studies pre- 
cisely at one o'clock, and pursue the same course 
marked out for the forenoon for study, recitation, 
&c. 

10. From half past five till supper, I will 
spend in reviewing Latin. 

11. I will exercise, &c. from supper till seven 
o'clock. I will then review Greek one hour, 
and study classics till nine. 



RALPH I. BROWN. 25 

12. I will spend a short time in secret, prayer 
after each meal. 

13. I will pray at every ringing of the bell, 
and when going to my meals. 

14. I will try to be temperate in eating and 
drinking. 

15. I- will tell no anecdote, unless it will be 
for God's glory. 

16. I will try not to laugh loud nor talk un- 
profitably. 

17. I will read these over at nine in the eve- 
ning, and write in my Diary." 

These resolutions he made at first for one 
week, and then renewed them, because he 
thought he should be more likely to observe 
them if made for a stated period. And besides, 
he would have the liberty of making any altera- 
tion at the close of the week which experience 
should piove to be necessary. He mentions 
praying at " every ringing of the bell ;•" and we 
remark, for the information of the reader who 
may not be acquainted with tbe fact, that the 
bell rings eight or ten times a day. Nor were 
these eight or ten times a day his only seasons 
of prayer. It will be seen by these resolutions 
that he had several others. He unquestionably 
owed much of his piety and success to his pray- 
ing without ceasing. If you, reader, neglect 



26 MEMOIR OF 

prayer, be admonished by the example before 
you of a young man having his twelve seasons, 
at least, of prayer to Almighty God. The bells 
ringing for labor, of which he makes mention, 
has leference to the fact that the students in that 
Institution spend a short time each day in labor. 
The observance of these excellent regulations 
had a powerful influence on Mr. Brown's men- 
tal and spiritual improvement which he made 
during his connexion with the Seminary. 

Soon after his arrival at Hamilton he wrote 
to his parents, giving an account of his journey, 
prospects, &c. ; but we pass by these letters, 
giving only the following extract : 

"Hamilton Seminary, July 28, 1830. 
My dear Parents, 
It is Wednesday afternoon. I have retired 
to my room, thrown up my window, which faces 
to the south and affords a delightful prospect of 
the surrounding scenery, and have placed my- 
self at my table to hold a conference with the 
guardians of my youth.* # * * When I wrote you 
before, I informed you that I expected to stay 
here six years. This doubtless surprised you. 
But the reasons I can assign for so doing are 
numerous." [He here assigns several reasons, 
which would not be interesting to the general 
reader, and adds]— i( Another reason is, the 



HALT II I. BROWN. *27 

present age requires that those who attempt to 
preach the gospel should be thoroughly fur- 
nished with arguments to plead the cause of the 
Redeemer. 1 say the present age requires it. 
When I turn my attention to the Western 
States — to the valley of the 'Mississippi — I be- 
hold a dark and woful night hanging over that 
portion of our beloved country. The Roman 
Catholics in that region are on the alert, and 
making every exertion to spread their unhal- 
lowed principles. Alexander Campbell is mak- 
ing terrible havoc among the churches. Infi- 
delity, arrayed in its most formidable attire, is 
disseminating its deleterious and pernicious doc- 
trines, and thousands have already felt their 
baneful effects. We can only adopt the lan- 
guage of the apostle and exclaim, " Who is suf- 
ficient for these things ?" I often weep when I 
call to mind the unhappy condition of that sec- 
tion of our country. Considering the worth of 
the immortal soul, and the danger of its being 
lost, I pant for the blessed privilege of preach- 
ing the everlasting gospel to those who are 
starving for the bread of eternal life. I long to 
tell those in that region that a Saviour has of- 
fered up his life to meet the exigencies of the 
dying sinner. Rut I feel the vast, importance of 
being duly qualified, of having a thorough know- 
ledge of the Holy Scriptures, in order to be a 



28 MEMOIR OF 

successful preacher of the cross of Christ. I of- 
ten think of the land of my nativity. Alas! 
that there should be one in that place where the 
gospel has long been faithfully preached, who 
should be so callous to the voice of conscience 
as to despise the offers of bleeding mercy. * # * 
I am perfectly contented, and feel sensible that 
my happiest days are now gliding away. 
Your affectionate son, 

R. I. BROWN." 

Before the date of Mr. Brown's next letter, 
he was called, in the Providence of God, to sus- 
tain an irreparable loss in the death of his fa- 
ther. This event was very sudden, and Ralph 
did not anticipate the shock. We were on a 
visit to the West at the time, and had an oppor- 
tunity of witnessing the calm resignation of our 
brother in the loss of a parent whom he tender- 
ly loved. But he can better speak for himself 
in the following letter. 

" Hamilton Seminary, N. Y. Oct. 2, 1830. 

" Dear Mother, 
My feelings are very peculiar while I now 
address you. A thousand thoughts of home 
rush on my mind, while I attempt to address 
one who, in the Providence of God, has been 
railed to mourn the loss of an affectionate hus- 



RALPH I. BROWN.- 29 

band. Ah ! little did I think, when I left home 
last spring, where many years of my life had 
rolled away into eternity, that I should never 
again behold the face of the father who had 
watched over my juvenile years with anxious 
solicitude. But such are the mysterious ways 
of Providence. While we are dreaming of hap- 
piness, and indulging the pleasing hope that we 
shall long enjoy the society of our friends, 
Death, that " insatiate archer," bends his bow 
and aims his arrow at their heart, and the object 
on which our affections are placed is gone, gone 
forever. The judgments of God are peculiarly 
calculated to wean us from the world, and relax 
our eager grasp upon its fading, withering ob- 
jects. Lest the sun of prosperity should dazzle 
us too much, the clouds of adversity are per- 
mitted to intervene, that we may experience 
their salutary influence. Ah ! how soon can 
Jehovah blast all our fond hopes of happiness, 
to show us the uncertainty of all creature com- 
forts and earthly good. Dear mother, while we 
are called to drop the silent tear over one whom 
we loved, let us remember "it is the hand of 
the Lord" that hath done it, and that "the 
Judge of all the earth will do right." Gladly 
would I pour the oil of consolation into your 
wounded spirit, if it were in my power. But I 
trust the consolations of God with you are nei= 
c2 



30 MEMOIR OF 

ther few nor small- Truly, the religion of Je- 
sus is every thing. Without it the world is but 
a dreary waste, and human life almost insup- 
portable. It is this invaluable treasure which 
enables us to look beyond this vale of tears to 
a brighter and better world, where no storm 
arises, no tempest threatens, and no sorrows roll 
across the peaceful breast to disturb its felicity. 
Oh, glorious hope, reviving prospect ! Let the 
world be forgotten in view of that "eternal weight 
of glory" which is reserved for the ransomed of 
God. 

I more than ever see the importance of liv- 
ing near the throne — of devoting all I have in 
the service of the great Redeemer. * * * As life 
is " but a vapor which appeareth for a while and 
then vanisheth away," it becomes us to spend 
it all in the service of God — to improve its gold- 
en moments, and to dedicate the short remnant 
of our days to the service of Him who has done 
so much to bless and save us." 

Mr. Brown, on the same occasion, addressed 
the following lines to his elder brother, and sis- 
ter next younger. 

" Dear Brother F. 
Called as we are, in the morning of life, to 
mourn the loss of an affectionate parent. I hope 



RALPH I. BROWN. 3i 

that it may serve to show us the changeableness 
and deceitfulness of all earthly objects, and en- 
able us to live more devoted to God. 

" How vain are all things here below, 
How false, and yet how fair; 
Each pleasure hath its poison too. 
And every sweet a snare." 

I beseech you, dear brother, to be often in 
prayer: suffer not your affections to be too 
much placed on things below." 

" There's nothing true but heaven." 

" Dear Sister M., 
What shall I say to you ? My mind often 
wanders away to the scenes of my childhood, 
where every prospect was bright and sunny, 
when scarcely a cloud floated across my hori- 
zon. I often think of the pleasant visits we 
have made together. We then enjoyed the 
smiles of a father ; but, oh ! he has gone down 
to the silent grave. What now are the feelings 
of your heart ? Are you still a gay and thought- 
less girl ? or are you more aroused to a sense of 
duty ? Oh ! how long will you walk in the way 
of the transgressor and be numbered among the 
enemy ? I hope, when I hear from you, I shall 
hear that you have done your duty. That you 
are determined, let an ungodly world say what it 



32 MEMOIR OF 

may, to walk in the blood-traced footsteps of 
the Saviour. May the Lord bless you, and 
preserve you from the vanities of this wicked 
world, is the prayer of your brother." 

The prayer of our dear brother was answered. 
This sister soon after professed religion, and 
stood at the bedside of Ralph when he was dy- 
ing ; and he had the happiness of taking the part- 
ing hand with her as a follower of the dear Sav- 
iour. 

It has often been remarked, that many, per- 
haps most of the best men of our times, had 
praying mothers, to whose influence and prayers 
their early piety and subsequent devotedness 
were, in a great measure, to be ascribed. This 
was true of our departed brother. And how 
rich is the reward, even in this life, which such 
mothers receive. They see and reap the fruits 
of their faithfulness. Let both the praying and 
the prayerless mother read the following letter, 
and be encouraged or admonished as they have 
been faithful or negligent in training up their 
children for God and heaven. If there can be 
any thing on earth which is an adequate com- 
pensation for the sufferings, anxiety and toils of 
a mother, it must be the reward of having such 
a son. The letter was written while he was 
spending the winter vacation of the Seminary, 



RALPH 1. BROWN. 33 



which at that time was twelve weeks, in teach- 
ing school. 

" Norwich, N. Y. Feb. 12, 1831. 

" Dear Mother, 

As an opportunity is presented of writing 
you, by Maj. D. R. W., I thought best to im- 
prove it. The scenes of my childhood are fresh 
in my recollection, and time will not easily efface 
them. In my imagination I am transported to 
the home of my youth, and seated around the 
fireside with those whom I shall never forget. — ■ 
But, oh ! recollection soon assumes her empire, 
and I find myself far away from home, immured 
within the walls of a school-house, and sur- 
rounded bv a number of mischievous scholars. 
My mind often lingers upon those happy sea- 
sons when we surrounded the family altar, read 
a portion of God's Holy Word, and joined in 
humble prayer. At such times the Holy Spirit 
I trust was there, and I often felt myself filled 
with love divine. Oh ! tell me not that happi- 
ness is a resident in scenes of merriment — in 
walls of worldly pleasure. One evening spent 
in meditating on the Divine Goodness, in read- 
ing the Scriptures, or in prayer, is worth more 
than years spent in the follies of the world. My 
heart is pained when I see those who profess to 
be the followers of Jesus, stepping aside from 
the path of innocence, keeping pace with the 



34 MEMOIR OF 

ungodly in the follies of the world, going to par- 
ties of pleasure, and wasting those precious mo- 
ments which were given to us for a more noble 
purpose. Ah ! how little do they think they 
are planting thorns in their pillows — that a day 
will come when their souls will be harrowed up 
with the recollection that they have brought a 
dark stain upon the bleeding cause of Christ. 
Little do they realize that the influence of their 
pernicious example will be felt long after they 
are sunk in deep forgetfulness. 

I have thought recently, dear mother, on your 
situation ; and on what must be your feelings at 
the present time. Called, as you are, to drink 
the waters of affliction, are you reconciled to the 
will of God — or are you ready to murmur and 
repine at his Providences ? But I need not ask 
these questions. I feel well assured that you view T 
the present afflictions as the chastisements of a 
merciful Father. For " whom the Lord loveth, 
he chasteneth- 7 ' He afflicts us for our profit, 
that we may be partakers of his holiness. The 
apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy 
to suffer afflictions. The blessed Saviour was 
" a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." 
We are surrounded by " a cloud of witnesses," 
who had " trials of cruel mockings ; yea, more- 
over, of bonds and imprisonments. They were 
torn asunder, stoned, of whom the world was not 



RALPH I. BROWN. 35 

worthy/' But life, with all its distresses, was 
quickly over, and they were borne home to ev- 
erlasting life. 

I have often thought, when I have heard peo- 
ple talk about enjoying the good things of this 
life, and hoping they should not be called to suf- 
fer afflictions, that they little knew the value of 
afflictions. I have thought lately, if there were 
any persons to be envied, they are those who 
are called to wade through the deep waters of 
affliction, to stem the waves and billows of sor- 
row, disappointment and blasted hope. And 
not those around whose pathway no dark cloud 
gathers, and are 

" Carried to the skies 
On flowery beds of ease." 



Heaven will be brighter and sweeter to those 
who " have come up out of great tribulation," 
who pass " the days of their sojourning here in 
fear.' 7 The afflictions of this life are of short 
duration — they will soon be over. They are 
calculated to unbend our minds from the objects 
of this perishing world — to promote holiness in 
our hearts — to strengthen our attachment to the 
cause of Christ, and finally they will " work out 
for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight 
of glory." It has been my object lately to try 
to forget the w T orld, and I can truly say that I 



36 MEMOIR OF 

care not for its riches or honors. If I can onlv 
be instrumental of doing good, of glorifying my 
blessed Redeemer, and can live a holy life, it is 
all I desire. 

Religion, I lament to say it, is clothed in the 
habiliments of mourning in this village. It is 
not so in adjacent towns. Professor Sears has 
baptized between forty and fifty at Hamilton 
since last fall. Oh ! that the Most High would 
revive his work and have mercy upon sinners in 
this place, who are hastening on to meet a 
dreadful doom. I must conclude, as my paper 
fails, and I have other letters to write. May 
heaven's blessings rest upon you, and as many 
afflictions as your Heavenly Father shall deem 
necessary for your furtherance in the grace of 
our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Your affectionate son, 

R. I. BROWN." 

We are happy to state that the prayer of our 
brother was answered a few months after the 
date of the above letter. The beautiful town 
of N. was visited with the grace of God and 
made more excellent by an abundant harvest of 
the fruits of the Divine Spirit. A multitude of 
souls, who were dead in trespasses and sins when 
he wrote the above, soon after were brought to 
rejoice " in hope of glory. u It will be seen by 



RALPH I. BROWN. 37 

the Diary and Letters of Mr. Brown, how much 
interest he felt in the good work. 

The following letter in reply to a friend, will 
give us his views of the necessity of a thorough 
education for the ministry, his anxiety for the 
people in N., fee. 

"Norwich, Feb. 14, 1831. 
" Dear Brother, 
As a favorable opportunity is presented for 
writing you, I embrace it with unusual pleasure. 
I return you my unfeigned thanks for your ad- 
vice, but think best not to follow it. I am fully 
sensible that six years is quite a long period to 
devote to study. I am sensible, also, that labor- 
ers are needed now in the vineyard of God — 
that " the fields are white, ready to the harvest" 
— that the day of our usefulness will soon be 
over — that the dismal night of death will soon 
come, " in which no man can work." I trust I 
have weighed these considerations well. But in 
view of the present situation of things, in view 
of the rapid strides infidelity is making in the 
world, and the great utility of a proper under- 
standing of the Scriptures of divine truth, in or- 
der to silence gainsayers and cavilers at the re- 
ligion of the cross, I feel it my duty to devote 
six years to study. Suppose all should have 
followed your advice and never studied the Ian- 



38 MEMOIR OF 

guages. where would have been our English 
translation of the Bible ? What influence would 
Luther have exerted, if he had not been a man 
of learning ? 

When I see how ignorant I am, and the ne- 
cessity of ministers of the gospel being thorough- 
ly qualified for the work, I am more than ever 
convinced, that I have done right in adopting 
the present course. I am aware that souls are 
perishing, that multitudes are pressing on to 
hell, and I feel I might do some good by the 
blessing of God, if I should now take the field. 
And if there were no prejudice to encounter, no 
strong holds of atheism, no intrenchment of in- 
fidelity to approach, if all believed the Bible to 
be the word of God, and the eternity of rewards 
and punishments taught therein ; 1 should enter 
the work without delay. But O what a for- 
midable host rises up to meet us in every direc- 
tion ! There are ungodly Atheists who deny the 
existence of God, there are Deists, Roman Catho- 
lics, Universalis!^ and Unitarians (who deny 
that Jesus was equal to the Father, a doctrine 
which even the devils dare not deny,) and a 
host of others, presenting their shameless front 
against the doctrines taught by the blessed Sa- 
viour. The disciples of Jesus did not take the 
field as soon as they were called. They spent 
three years under the instruction of Him who 
taught as never man taught,beforethey were per* 



RALPH I. BROWN. 39 

milled to go forth to preach to their dying fel- 
low men.* # ** #: *Elder S. lives only a few rods 
from my school house. He is a friend whom 
I have every reason to love and respect. I 
have no pleasant news to communicate to you, 
at this time, respecting the state of religion in 
this place. Christians seem to be asleep and 
sinners are coursing the downward road to hell. 

N , like Capernaum, is "exalted to Heaven" 

in its privileges, but I fear (unless the grace of 
God prevents) that many of its inhabitants like 
those of Capernaum will " be thrust down to 
hell." Oh, how we need a reformation. The 
Lord is doing wonders in almost every direction 
around us. Prof. S. who preaches in Hamil- 
ton (and a first rate preacher he is too,) has 
baptized between 40 and 50,and a goodly number 
have also been added to the Presbyterian Church 
there. About one thousand it is thought have 
experienced religion in and around Rochester. 
There is now a revival in Utica, and in other 
places around us, O that the tide of salvation 
would roll this way.**-*-* # i understand that 
you have united with the church. It afforded 
me much pleasure when I heard Gi it. I have 
also heard that you are teaching school. I hope 
you do your duly to your scholars by pointing 
them to Jesus, 

Yours &c. 

R. I. BROWN. 



40 MEMOIR or 

Soon after the date of the above letter, Mr. 
Brown resumed his studies at Hamilton. His 
progress, and his religious exercises after his re- 
turn to the institution, are recorded with his 
own pen in his Diary, from which we shall make 
extracts. 

" Saturday, March 6, 1831.— Left Norwich, 
where I have spent the winter teaching school, 
and returned to the consecrated hill to pursue 
the studies of the institution. Two of my bre- 
thren who had spent the winter in other places, 
came into N. this morning, and I had their com- 
pany in the stage. How delightful to see those 
we love, after having been separated from them 
for a season. How solemn the reflection, that 
another winter has passed away and I am so 
much nearer the eternal world. Spent this 
evening alone, and principally in prayer. Had 
a happy season. 

Sunday, 1th.— This day has truly been a 
Sabbath day's journey to my soul. Have heard 
two excellent discourses from our excellent 
Professor S. The church has enjoyed a precious 
revival, during the past winter. The ordinance 
of baptism was administered to-day. One 
lovely youth was buried with Christ by bap- 
tism. It was also the communion season, and 
the church appears very much united. O how 



RALPH I. BROWN. 41 

delightful to see so many seated around their 
Master's table. 

Monday, 8th. — I feel that I ought to improve 
every moment, O ! may I study with reference 
to eternity. 

Tuesday, 9th. — If there was ever a mortal 
being under obligation to love the Lord, I feel 
that I am the one. I am surrounded with 
many blessings, and they justly demand of me 
a tribute of praise and thankfulness. But ah! what 
poor returns I make, how little I " live as be- 
comes the gospel of Christ." So pressing are 
my studies, I fear I do not think of and prepare 
for a boundless eternity as I ought. A four 
days meeting of the Presbyterian denomination 
commenced in this village this evening O may 
the great Head of the church bless it to the sal- 
vation of some souls. 

Wednesday, 19th. — This afternoon I attended 
the Union Meeting as it is called. The assem- 
bly was large and was addressed by Mr. S. who 
pointed out the consequences of a sinner's turn- 
ing back into the world after having been 
awakened. He remarked that those who did, 
actually fought against God, because they re- 
sisted his Holy Spirit. He again remarked " it 
was the last effort of Almighty God to save the 
sinner. He had no other Son to give, no other 
sacrifice to make," A goodly number arose for 



42 MEMOIR Oi 

prayer. He also remarked upon the conse- 
quences of their turning back into the world. 
" They were more presumptuous sinners, given 
up to judicial blindness, left to believe a lie that 
they all might be damned who believe not the 
truth." 

Thursday, llth. — O how important that 
Christians should examine themselves, and 
prove themselves, lest they be reprobates. — 
How many at the last great day of retribution 
will be dreadfully disappointed when they 
" awake to shame and everlasting contempt." 
I more than ever feel the importance of devo- 
ting some portion of each day to self-examina- 
tion. I have reason to believe if this duty were 
strictly attended to great good would result. This 
duty is greatly neglected. I feel that I do not 
as often as I ought, look into my own heart. 
Consequently prayer is neglected and my pro- 
gress in the divine life impeded. O this body 
of sin and death. 

Saturday, 13th.- — Another week has rolled 
away into eternity, and I am so much nearer 
the grave. How little have I done for God the 
week past, how many precious moments have 
run to waste. O the levity of my resolutions 
to live near to God. Lord, mould me more and 
more into thy image. " Satisfy me early with 
thy mercy." 



RALPH I. BROWN. 43 

Sunday, 14th. — How delightful the return of 
the Sabbath, what invaluable blessings does it 
brinff with it. What a rich boon is this to man- 
kind. What superior pleasure does the Christian 
enjoy while he visits the courts of the living God. 
His soul is refreshed while he hears the word of 
life dispensed. 

Monday, 15th. — As another week has com- 
menced, may I recommence my life, and devote 
myself wholly and unreservedly to God, and his 
cause. Certainly there is nothing worthy the 
attention of the immortal mind in this vain and 
withering w T orld. Its friendship is false, its riches 
and honors are ephemeral, audits pleasures dis- 
gusting. O! may I cast an eye forward to that 
brighter and better world, where its riches and 
honors will never fade, and where its pleasures 
will never cloy. O! may it be my object to 
prepare for a state of eternal blessedness. 

Tuesday, 16th. — Another day is gone, O ! 
how swiftly roll the wheels of time ! With 
what amazing celerity they roll us onward to- 
wards that amazing gulf, Eternity. How im- 
portant that every moment should be improved. 

Wednesday, 11th. — O ! how useless the re- 
solutions I make in my own strength. I often 
resolve that I will serve the Lord better, that I 
will pray more and live more humbly. But O ! 



44 MEMOIR OF 

a treacherous and delusive world decoys and en- 
slaves me." 

The feelings which are exhibited in the fol- 
lowing entrance in his Diary, are common to 
those who commence preaching the gospel and 
feel the necessity of spending several years in 
study as a necessary preparation for the work. 

Thursday, 18th.- — I am now making the Latin 
language my principal study. I sometimes ask 
myself is it for the glory of God, that I should 
stay here six years, while immortal souls are 
perishing, to whose salvation those years might 
be devoted ? But, O ! what clouds of igno- 
rance hang around my horizon. How little do 
I know concerning the word of God. How lit- 
tle prepared to meet the cavils of infidels, and 
silence gainsayers. O ! may I pursue that 
course which will be productive of the most 
good/' 

Multitudes have the same feelings expressed 
by our brother, and alas ! too many yield to 
them. A young man whose heart is warm and 
who knows but little of the world, and still less 
of what is necessary that he may be " thorough- 
ly furnished" for the solemn work he has com- 
menced, is easily persuaded to neglect a course 
of study. He supposes either that learning is 
not necessary, or that he can easily acquire it af- 



{ 



RALPH I. BROWN. 45 

ter being settled in the ministry. But he will 
find out his mistake when it is useless to lament 
it, and too late to correct it. That a thorough 
course of classical, scientific, literary and theo- 
logical study is necessary for a minister of the 
gospel, is a fact placed beyond all controversy 
with those who have taken even a moderate 
share of pains to inform themselves on this 
point. It is vainly objected that the Apostles, 
with one exception, were unlearned men. For 
a great proportion of the studies presented in a 
course of preparation for the ministry, were 
placed within the attainment of the Apostles by 
the most abundant and felicitous means of ac- 
quiring a knowledge of them. Observe, for ex- 
ample, the almost innumerable oriental customs 
which are introduced into every chapter in the 
Bible. These are absolutely essential to a right 
understanding of the Scriptures, and require of 
the Biblical student of the present day, months 
of study. But the Apostles, and indeed the 
most ignorant people of their times, were famil- 
iar with all these from their childhood. The 
Latin, Greek and Hebrew languages, which af- 
ford so great facilities for fully and correctly un- 
derstanding the Holy Scriptures, were familiar 
to the Apostles from e very-day conversation. 
The principles of Biblical criticism and inter- 
pretation were necessarily understood by those 






46 



MEMOIR OF 



who were inspired of God to write the Scrip- 
tures. The same remarks apply to most of the 
studies which require of the student, preparing 
for the ministry, years of toil. Besides these 
facts, the Apostles associated with Christ for 
several years, received instruction constantly 
from his lips, and thus possessed the most ample 
means of acquiring knowledge. We w r ould not, 
for one moment, plead for the cold formality 
of which many learned men are guilty. Learn- 
ing does not necessarily produce this effect. 
And it is unfortunate for the cause of education, 
that most learned ministers have so little of the 
zeal of the Apostle (who was far more learned) 
that so many of them strew 

" The path that leads to hell with tempting flowers." 

But the exceptions are sufficiently numerous 
to prove that the most profound learning does 
not preclude the minister's lips being touched 
with a live coal from off the altar of God. Too 
many students suppose that they will have suf- 
ficient time for study after being settled, aside 
from their pastoral labors. But if they knew 
the incessant toils, the painful anxieties, and all 
the multiplied and various labors of the pastor, 
they would perceive the almost utter hopeless- 
ness of realizing their anticipations. It is true, 
many of the most learned men have beccme 



RALPH I. BROWN. 47 

such after having been settled in the ministry. 
And this is the delusion of many young minis- 
ters. But they should remember that these 
men had not the privilege of studying previous 
to their settlement ; and generally they are 
men of extraordinary self-denial and persever- 
ance. He, therefore, who has not enough of 
these qualities to pursue a course of study pre- 
paratory to the ministry, while unencumbered 
with cares, is very unwise to suppose he can 
pursue that course when he shall be borne down 
by the load of cares and responsibilities that 
press upon the. pastor. Want of health, the 
most common excuse, is equally groundless. It 
is a mistake, that better health is required for 
study than for pastoral labor ; for the reverse is 
true. We do not mean, by these remarks, that 
learning is to supply the place of piety. If we 
must choose between an ignorant and a grace- 
less ministry, by all means give us the former. 
And we say more — if we must choose between 
an ignorant and a lifeless ministry, give us the 
former. 

It is as indispensably necessary that a minis- 
ter should be devotedly pious as that a surgeon 
should be able to see ; and we must not be un- 
derstood as favoring the contrary doctrine. Not 
all the advantages of the most extensive acquire- 
ments can for one moment compensate for the 



. 



48 MEMOIR OF 

want of ardent piety in the minister of the gos- 
pel. The most admired beauties, and the most 
splendid attractions of science in the ambassa- 
dor of Christ, are cold and lifeless without warm 
devotion. These qualities may call forth the 
admiration of the multitude. So the cold ice- 
berg in its proud loftiness, glittering in the sun, 
may present all the beautiful colors of the rain- 
bow, but chained by eternal frost, it sends forth 
no ray of light nor heat. 

But while it is indispensably necessary that 
the minister of the gospel should be a pious 
man, it is exceedingly important that he should 
be a learned man. It is not to be expected 
that young men, when they first enter the min- 
istry, should know the importance of being 
" mighty in the scriptures." They have never 
yet encountered the learned enemies of religion. 
They have never yet known the numerous dif- 
ficulties which crowd around the path of the 
herald of salvation and forced even the apostle, 
with all his learning, piety and zeal to exclaim, 
" who is sufficient for these things ?" They 
place much more dependence upon their ability 
to do great things than they would if they had 
been benefited by more experience ; and it is 
not strange they should have an * aversion to 
being shut up in some " school of the prophets." 
Under these circumstances, it is the duty of 



RALPH I. BROWN. 49 

^very experienced Christian gently, but firmly, 
to point out to the young minister the path of 
duty ; showing him the prospect of increased 
usefulness which is presented to him if he 
■"studies to show himself approved unto God, a 
workman that needeth not to be ashamed." — 
But so far from pursuing this course, many 
Christians and not a few churches are guilty of 
the opposite. They are favored with the 
preaching of some talented young man during 
a vacation, or before he commences a course of 
study, and being aware that if he completes his 
education he will be called to occupy some more 
important situation than theirs, they use unjus- 
tifiable means to obtain him. They will flatter 
him, telling him he can preach well enough 
now, even as well as most educated men, and 
that it is not necessary for him to study, though 
it may be for those who cannot preach without. 
They present to him their destitute condition, 
telling him he may not live many months, and 
ask him if he can reconcile his spending so much 
time in study with his sense of duty ; if he is 
willing to die, after having done so little for 
God. We know too well the influence which 
this course often has on the ardent, conscientious 
young man. But however powerful this influ- 
ence may be, it ought to be nothing ; for, as it 
regards his preaching, if he can preach so well 



50 MEMOIR OF 

now, he may be assured he can preach much 
better with a thorough liberal education. As 
for the necessities of such churches, it is very 
desirable that they should be supplied, but not 
at the expense of the increased usefulness of 
those who may attain to wider fields of labor, 
and far more successful efforts by a course of 
study. And then we ought to do our duty ex- 
pecting to live, but willing to die when God in 
wisdom shall see best. 

We are happy in the reflection that our dear 
brother, though possessing an earnest desire to 
preach the gospel to perishing sinners, consider- 
ed it his duty to prepare for the work, and to 
do all the good in his power during the time of 
his preparation. In one of his letters to his 
brother, he expresses great anxiety lest he should 
be obliged to relinquish his studies for want of 
funds, and says if so, he should be " crippled 
all his life." He continues in his Diary : 

Friday r , 19th. — Busily engaged in fixing my 
room ; scarcely had time, (or forgot) to think 
of God and the vast concerns of eternity. 

Saturday, 29th. — Another week has closed. 
The duties I have neglected during the past 
week must meet me in the day of judgment. 
The precious moments which have been wast- 
ed or misimproved, can never be recalled. O 



RALPH I. BROWN. 51 

may I be prepared for my last and solemn 
change. May the lamp of my piety burn with 
a purer and a brighter flame. 

Sunday, %\st. — Another Sabbath with its at- 
tendant privileges has returned. O that I might 
possess the feelings of the Psalmist when he 
said, " My soul thirsteth for God, for the living 
God." The day has gone by. I have attended 
a conference meeting this evening and heard the 
voice of young converts praising God. O how 
interesting to contemplate the young Christian 
in his " earliest love." It is the youth of the 
immortal spirit. We can look forward to the 
ceaseless ages of eternity, when its powers will 
be developed, when new beauties will be un- 
veiled and new glories charm the soul forever. 

Monday, 22d. — Our class held a prayer 
meeting this evening, and it was a refreshing 
season. O, if these seasons are but a foretaste 
of heaven, what will it be when we get home I 

Wednesday, 24:th. — -Prayer is the very breath 
of the Christian; without it his enjoyments will 
be few. A person must not expect to be use- 
ful or happy unless he prays much. I feel 
that I greatly neglect this duty. 

It is particularly pleasing to observe the views 
which our brother had of prayer, that infinitely 
important, but much neglected duty. We often 



52 MEMOIR OF 

complain that our prayers are not answered ; 
but if we were as faithful in performing this 
duty as we should be, there would be no cause 
of complaint. Our prayers are too cold and 
heartless to be answered. And one reason of 
this is, we pray but once or twice perhaps dur- 
ing the day, when we are commanded to " pray 
without ceasing." If we were to imitate the 
subject of this memoir, who prayed while dres- 
sing, every time the bell rung, when going to 
his meals, besides morning and evening, w T e 
should feel the truth of the beautiful sentiment, 

" Prayer ardent opens heaven, lets down 
A stream of glory on the consecrated 
Hour of man in audience with the Deity." 

It is easy to offer up a short silent prayer 
many times during the day. In the midst of 
company how easy it is to recline the head up- 
on the hand, and closing our eyes, address a few 
words silently to God. It is our duty, and we 
shall know it to be our interest, if we are faith- 
ful in performing the duty. The example of 
heathen should admonish us. The Mahome- 
dans have their five stated seasons for prayer for 
each day ; and a writer recently in Russia, says, 
they are so scrupulous in attending to this duty, 
that however numerous and urgent their en- 
gagements, when the appointed time arrives, 



RALPH I. BROWN, 53 

they leave every other concern, immediately 
kneel and offer up their prayers. The man of 
business, surrounded by all his customers, still 
prays his five times a day. The same writer 
adds, a Mussalman fleeing from the plague, 
will find time to pray his five times a day. — 
What a reproof is this to prayerless professors 
of religion. Boswell in his life of Johnson tells us 
of a man, who was confined on a charge of being 
insane, when there was no other evidence of 
insanity than that he went about the street ask- 
ing those he met to let him pray with them. 
And he would kneel and pray by the road side, 
and wherever he happened to be, when he 
could find any one who was willing to be pray- 
ed for. This course was so different from the 
conduct of the prayerless multitude, that they 
thought the praying man must be deranged. — 
But we agree with the great Dr. Johnson, when 
he says, in speaking of this man, that mankind 
generally give greater evidence of insanity in 
their neglect of prayer than this man in his un- 
usual devotedness to it. We would not, in 
recommending the form of prayer, forget the 
necessity of possessing its spirit. Praying is 
something more than repeating certain words. 

" It is the soul's sincere desire 

Utter'd or unexpressed, 

The motions of a hidden fire 

That trembles in the breast." E2 



54 MEMOIR OF 

Friday, 26th. — I have not bad much enjoy- 
ment for a day or two past. This evening be- 
ing alone, 1 have had opportunity to reflect 
on my present state. My sins arose before me, 
my broken vows and resolutions came throng- 
ing into my mind. I addressed a throne of 
grace, my heart softened, my feelings were in- 
expressible. O that I could always feel the 
influence of the Spirit. I am too lifeless in my 
devotions, and I do not possess that holy ardor 
which I ought. 

Saturday, 21th. — Did we always reflect as 
we ought upon that passage in James, " What 
is your life, it is even a vapor that appeareth 
for a while and then vanisheth away," how 
would every moment be improved. But the 
busy cares of a deceitful world unbend our 
minds from this important subject. Week af- 
ter week passes away into eternity, bearing us 
nearer our final home, and yet how little do we 
think of it ! If we should devote some time 
each day to thoughts of death, the cold grave 
and a judgment day, O what an influence 
would it have upon our lives. 

Monday, 29th.— O my want of spiritual 
mindedness ! How little do I imitate the exam- 
ple of my blessed Saviour ! I feel that I am 
too much inclined to be vain and light-minded* 
Have mercy upon me, O God ! 



RALPH 1. BROWN. 55 

The following beautiful paragraph ought to 
be read or repeated at the close of every day, 
O how little did our dear brother suppose it 
would so soon be true. How short was the 
time before "the day-star" of his existence did 
set. How often, as we passed the tomb where 
he lay, for many months after his death, have 
we thought of his own expression : " How soon 
will the sable curtains of the tomb be drawn 
around me.' 5 If the hopes and prayers and 
affections of a thousand anxious friends could 
have staid the shaft of death, O my brother, 
" the day-star of thy existance" had still shone, 
the " curtains of the tomb" had not so soon 
been drawn around thee. But thou art gone 
to that bright world where the Christian lives, 
no more to die ; and there w 7 e will soon meet 
thee, for 

" Beyond the reach of time, 
Beyond the reign of death, 
There surely is some blessed clime. 
Where life is not a breath." 

Tuesday, 30th. — Another sun has gone down , 
and the evening is stretched over the landscape. 
May it remind me that the day-star of my ex- 
istence will soon set, and the sable curtains of 
the tomb be drawn around me. O, what is 
life ! How swiftly does it pass away ! And 



56 MEMOIR OF 

ought not every moment to be improved ? Yes: 
for every moment of our time here will have a 
direct bearing upon our destiny throughout the 
wasteless ages of eternity. It will either en- 
hance our blessedness or roll a deeper wave of 
dark damnation on our guilty souls forever. — 
O solemn and momentous truth ! 

Wednesday, 3lst. — I have had but little en- 
joyment this day ; my thoughts have been too 
often wandering in secret prayer, and many 
times when 1 arise from my knees I am ready 
to conclude that I have " mocked God with my 
lips while my heart has been far from him." 

The sentiments contained in the following 
paragraph are worthy the attention of every 
young Christian, and they commend them- 
selves especially to students preparing for the 
sacred ministry. Such are exposed to some 
powerful temptations to levity, and yet if they 
yield to these temptations, they may rest assured 
that they will one day most bitterly repent it. 
Our departed brother possessed a natural tem- 
perament which inclined him to unusual cheer- 
fulness, which is always in danger of carrying 
us too far. But he made great efforts to con- 
quer this propensity, to be cheerful without be- 
ing rude, and he in a great measure attained to 

it. 

Friday , April 1st. — I am sensible my best days 



RALPH I. BROUN. Oi 

are passing away. Now is the spring-time of 
my life, and it is important that it should be well 
improved. The habits which I am forming 
while here at the Institution, 1 am sensible will 
follow me through life. And if these habits 
are not good, O what an influence they will 
have upon my future life. I must expect, if I 
indulge in levity it will follow me through life ; 
and at the day of judgment I shall be reproach- 
ed by those who, by observing my lightness and 
indifference, have continued to sleep securely 
in sin, till death appeared, and they opened 
their eyes upon the world of woe. 

Saturday, April 2d — O my God, thou who 
hast lengthened out my life until the close of 
another w 7 eek, forgive the sins I have commit- 
ted, and shed abroad in my soul thy Holy Spi- 
rit, that I may be prepared for the duties of the 
approaching Sabbath. 

Sunday, 3d.- — This is the day when Jesus 
rose. May my mind advert to the sufferings, 
death and resurrection of my Saviour. May 
this be my theme to-day. May no unholy 
thought enter the sanctuary of my breast, and 
while I go to the house of God, may I reflect 
upon the wretched condition of the dying sin- 
ner. May my prayers ascend to God that he 
will meet with lib people and make it a happy 
season." 



58 MEMOIR OF 

If Christians always went to meeting with 
such feelings and prayers, how much more 
easily and successfully would the gospel be 
preached. Too many suppose they hear 
preaching merely to gratify their curiosity, and 
that an opportunity is offered them of criticising 
and passing their unjust censures upon the 
preacher. They roll off all the responsibility 
upon the burdened soul of the Minister, and 
think themselves excused. But they ought to 
feel, that while the minister is constrained to 
say, " Wo is me if I preach not the gospel," 
they should say, wo is me if I hear not the 
gospel ! God will judge the hearers, as well 
as the preachers of his word. 

Monday, 4th. — I have, for a few days past, 
thought much of the heathen, and sometimes I 
have longed to tell them of Jesus, who has 
offered up his life to meet the exigencies of their 
case ; but I am sensible I cannot do much, un- 
less I have ardent piety. O God, deepen the 
work of grace on my heart, that I may wield a 
mighty influence in favor of thy cause. 

" Tuesday, 5th.- — O, the sinner, the thought- 
less sinner ! I often think much of his misera- 
ble condition. And it is a solemn thought that 
he is exposed to eternal burnings. When I 
reflect upon it, I can hardly content myself here 
six years before I can go forth and warn my 
fellow men to flee from the wrath to come." 



RALPH I. BROWN. 59 

It certainly is very desirable to keep alive this 
anxiety for souls, in the hearts of students. To- 
do this, however, it is not necessary that the 
young preacher should relinquish his studies. 
He can do much for the conversion of sinners 
by his prayers, by his intercourse with them, 
and by his letters, even while engaged in study. 
In addition to this, in most of our Institutions, 
the students are encouraged to go out occasion- 
ally, sometimes frequently, during term time 
and preach. And then all the vacations, which 
are usually one quarter of the time, are left at 
the students' entire disposal. This presents 
sufficient opportunity for doing good, and though 
many young men may feel as our brother did, 
and ought so to feel, they cannot consistently 
require more time for preaching. 

" Wednesday, 6th. — I have reason to wonder 
that I am no more engaged. There certainly is 
every motive to incite my mind to untiring ex- 
ertion in so blessed a cause. The thought that 
I am acting for eternity ought to be ever present 
with me. The influence that I exert will be 
felt long after the grave shall have closed around 
me its tufted jaws. Yes, it will be felt through- 
out eternity. O, God, enable me, by thy grace, 
to exert a salutary influence ! 

Thursday, 1th. — My mind dull, and but little 
enjoyment, O the danger of being deceived I 



€0 MEMOIR OF 

When I discover the least evidence that I may 
have built upon a false foundation, it poisons all 
my joys and clouds my soul with midnight. — 
After all, I may come short and be obliged to 
lie down in eternal torments. Heart-rending 
thought ! My God, permit me not to be de- 
ceived. O, may my thoughts be more on 
Thee, the source of everlasting joy. " As the 
hart panteth after the water brooks," so may 
my soul pant after thee, O God. 

Friday, 8th. — -While I am attending to the 
study of the languages, I hope I may not forget 
to make improvement in piety. I am fully sen- 
sible that the student preparing for the ministry 
ought to make this a regular study, and devote 
as much time to its attainment as he devotes to 
the study of Greek and Latin. Science, I 
know, is valuable, but I fear it will prove a curse 
if, in attaining it, we lose our heart religion. 
Why did Whitfield, Edwards, Brainard, Pay- 
son and others accomplish so much good? Was 
it owing alone to their erudition ? No, they 
were filled with the Holy Ghost ; their hearts 
glowed with piety." 

Mr. Brown presents a lively example of the 
increase of piety in a course of classical study. 
Too many students have lost their piety, not 
altogether their religion, but their glowing 
piety, in the College or the Theological Insti- 



RALPH 1. BROWN 



61 



tution. There is no necessity for this, though 
by many, the fault is charged upon the College 
or the Seminary. It is chargeable upon the 
student alone ; and he should consider the ne- 
cessity of watchfulness and prayer in all his 
course of study. 

Saturday, 9th. — This is a time of heavenly 
exploits in this part of the world. Every re- 
turning mail brings intelligence of the remark- 
able outpourings of the Spirit of God. Power- 
ful revivals are taking place in almost every 
direction, where hardened sinners are falling 
before the power of omnipotent truth. The 
banners of the cross are waving in every part 
of this country ; sinners are forsaking the ranks 
of the enemy and coming over on the Lord's 
side. Blessed be God that 1 have lived to see 
this day, the dawning of this Millennial morn- 
ing. 

Sunday, 10th. — What a blessed privilege to 
visit the sanctuary and worship the living God. 
How little do I improve these great blessings. 
How many, when the Sabbath returns, have 
no one to break to them the bread of life. How 
many rarely hear a sermon during their lives. 
O God, give us hearts of thankfulness for these 
exalted privileges, and may our desires go up 
to Thee for those who never heard a. Saviour's 
name, who have no Bible to read, no God ta 



62 MF.M01R OF 

whom they can go : and may we at all times 
remember what Thou hast said, " Of those to 
whom much is given, much will be required.' 7 

Monday, llth. — For a few months past I 
have thought much of the perishing heathen, 
and sometimes wish my studies were completed, 
that 1 might go and tell them of Jesus. The 
cause of Missions lies near my heart ; 1 hear a 
voice saying, " Go ye into all the world, and 
preach the gospel to every creature." But O, 
a missionary should be a man of ardent piety, 
and be wholly devoted to the service of God. 
Gracious Father, give me more of a missionary 
spirit — -May I feel more than ever for the wants 
of my dying fellow men. 

Tuesday, 12th. — ? how deceitful is the 
world ! But the human heart is much more so. 
Well might the prophet say, " The heart is 
deceitful above all things, and desperately 
wicked." How important that every avenue 
should be firmly guarded. If but one small 
avenue to the heart be left open, Satan will find 
admittance. He is ever watching, and suffers 
no opportunity to pass unimproved. I hope I 
shall always remember the words of the Saviour, 
u resist the devil 5 and he will flee from thee." 
May I then *' be sober, be vigilant ; for my ad- 
versary 5 the devil, goeth about as a roaring lion, 
seeking whom he may devour." 

Wedn&day, 13th. — "God has preserved my 



RALPH 1. BROWN. 63 

life through the solemn state of sleep, and per- 
mitted me to awake again in this world. "Bless 
the Lord, O my soul, f r all his mercies." O, 
God, be thou my guide through this day. May 
no vain thought be found lurking in my heart, 
and no idle word escape my tongue. 

Evening. — The day is passed, the sun gone 
down, and night has drawn her curtains over 
the world ; and I am one day nearer the judg- 
ment seat. 

Thursday, 14th. — How delightful the morn- 
ing walk ; to wander out into the silent grove, 
at this hour of stillness ; to think of God, of 
eternity, of that bright world far above yon 
azure skies, of that glittering crown which the 
Lord will give to those who love his appearing. 
How delightful, at twilight's pensive hour, to 
steal away to some sequestered spot and spend 
the time in holy meditation. How often, at 
such seasons, does my mind wander back to the 
loved scenes of youth, and linger upon the bright 
visions of the days when all was bright and 
beautiful. But O, those halcyon days have 
passed away. The wheels of time have been 
rolling on, year after year, and have borne me 
on toward my final home. Would to God I 
had better improved my time. 

Friday, 15th. — The day has passed, and I 
have only to lament that I have spent it no 



64 MEMOIR OF 

better, that 1 have made so little advancement 
in the divine life. 

Saturday, 16th. — Saturday night is a proper 
season for reflection. Then we should review 
the past week, and ask ourselves — Have we 
grown in grace 1 Are the evidences of our 
adoption brighter ? Are we prepared for the 
approaching Sabbath ? These and many other 
questions should be asked, and candidly answer- 
ed. 

Sunday, 11th. — Another Sabbath has dawned 
on the world, and doubtless many souls will be 
refreshed to-day. Many an ardent prayer will 
ascend to heaven. Many solemn warnings will 
fall upon the ears of sinners. Many a day ol 
grace will expire, and many a sermon will prove 
" a savor of death unto death !" O, solemn 
and affecting thought ! 

Monday, 18th. — Have attended to the study 
of Latin during the day, and I fear my mind 
has been more on my book than on God. 

Tuesday, 19th. — I can adopt the language 
of the Psalmist — " My soul lies cleaving to the 
dust ; quicken me according to thy word." 

Wednesday, 20th. — My mind dull ; scarcely 
any enjoyment. I feel a deadness creeping over 
my soul. O, gracious God, drive away these 
clouds of darkness, and lift upon me the light 
of thy countenance. 



RALPH I. BROWN. 65 

Thursday, 2\st. — I often think of the primi- 
tive saints. How much deadness to the world 
they manifested. How faithfully did they fol- 
low the footsteps of their Master. How admi- 
rably they exhibited the divinity of the religion 
they professed. But alas ! at the present time 
so little zeal and attachment to the cause of 
Christ is manifested by those who are his pro- 
fessed followers, that it seems as if the spirit of 
genuine piety had taken its flight from the 
world. O, how little self-denial do we mani- 
fest. 

Saturday, 23d. — Thus, another week has 
gone by. Time, like the swift arrow, passes rap- 
idly away. 

" Well, if our days must fly, 

We'll keep their end in sight ; 
We'll spend them all in wisdom's way, 

And let them speed their flight." 

Sunday, 24th. — I have this day visited the 
sanctuary. O, what a blessing ! How little 
do I prize it. The sun which shines upon myr- 
iads of happy beings, who meet for the worship 
of God, sheds its beams also upon millions of 
others, who 

u Never heard the sound of the church-going be!!. 
Nor smiled when a Sabbath appeared*" 

Two or three days after the above elate, Mr. 

f2 



66 MEMOIR OF 

Brown complains of great coldness and stupidity 
while very much engrossed by his studies. On 
Wednesday he received a letter from the pas- 
tor of the Baptist Church in N , where he 

spent the previous winter in teaching school. — 
The letter informed him of the commencement 
of a glorious revival, and the appointment of a 
protracted meeting to commence on the next 
Tuesday. The state of religion had been very 
low in that village, and we have seen by his let- 
ters, written while he was engaged in his school 
there, how much he desired a revival in that 
place. No intelligence could have been more 
joyfully welcomed by our dear brother at this 
time. He says, " The letter informed me that 
God had at length visited that place in mercy, 
and sinners were crying, c what must we do to 
be saved?' O, my feelings were indescribable. 
I laid aside my studies ; they were wholly unin- 
teresting. My thoughts were entirely upon 

N ." He speaks of his studies affording 

him no pleasure, his mind w T as so much occu- 
pied with anxiety for perishing sinners in N . 

On Friday evening, he determined to go to that 
place the next day. On Saturday, he walked 
twenty-two miles on foot, in about six hours, 
besides " stopping frequently to pray" for the 
people of the village he was going to visit. — 
What a lovely example of early piety. How 



RALPH I. BROWN. 67 

anxiously must he have desired the salvation of 
sinners, when he received with so much joy the 
news of their turning to God. And when he 
tried so hard to reach the place, that he might 
converse with them, not forgetting to stop often 
to pray. O, what an example is this for the 
cold, heartless professor. Above all, what an 
admonition to those thoughtless sinners, who 
have so much less pity on themselves, than those 
feel for them who have no worldlv interest in 
their salvation. With what complacency must 
the Son of God have looked down upon this 
lovely example of youthful piety. With what 
delight angels must have witnessed this holy ar- 
dor so much resembling their own. It is in vain 
that men may tell us religion is not a divine re- 
ality. Contrast the anxiety and prayers and 
labors of our brother for the salvation of sinners, 
with all the selfishness of this cold, interest-seek- 
ing world, and the difference must show that 
divine grace gives new life and makes a new 
heart. This benevolence, which prompts the 
Christian to desire so earnestly the salvation of 
others, to labor so faithfully and make such sac- 
rifices for the attainment of an object in which 
he cannot possibly have any worldly interest, 
is as plainly different from the feelings and con- 
duct of worldly men, as the brightest noonday 
is unlike the darkest midnight. Mr. Brown 



68 MEMOIR OF 

speaks of this meeting in all its particulars, with 
a deep interest. He appeared to have felt 
more deeply for the people of N , on ac- 
count of his having many relations residing 
there, and his previous acquaintance with many 
of the people. And his joy now, on seeing the 
revival in the church, and sinners turning to 
God, was proportionate to the anxiety he had 
felt. The next week he returned to the Semi- 
nary, and attended a protracted meeting in the 
village where it is located. He says : 

Monday, May 9th. — Returned to Hamilton 
in the stage. A young lad came with me from 
Norwich, to attend the Academy in this place. 
O Lord, preserve him from the temptations that 
lurk around his path, and may his coming to this 
place result in his conversion. In the evening, 
bro. Moore preached to the students. Hi$ text 
was, " Believing that he is, and that he is the 
rewarder of them that diligently seek him." — 
One of the young ladies from the boarding house 
was deeply impressed with a sense of her situa- 
tion as a sinner. At the close of this interesting 
interview, one of the brethren arose and re- 
marked, that a protracted meeting would com- 
mence next morning in the village, and then 
asked, who was willing to pray all night that 
the blessing of God might rest on the meeting I 



RALPH I. BROWN. 69 

AVe retired for a few moments to our rooms and 
to our closets ; when nearly all the students re- 
turned to the chapel, where we continued in 
prayer till three o'clock in the morning. Dur- 
ing our prayer meeting, the young lady men- 
tioned above was so distressed that some of the 
brethren went into the boarding house and 
prayed with her. She was converted before the 
meeting closed, and also a young lad from A., 
a relation of one of the brethren." 

The above is an example of faithfulness, 
worthy the imitation not only of all students, 
but of all Christians. God " will be sought un- 
to by the house of Israel," and will faithfully 
answer the prayers of his saints- In this 
pleasing instance of faithfulness in prayer, we 
see its efficacy. Two precious souls were con- 
verted that night, besides the influence this 
prayer meeting must have had upon the pro- 
tracted meeting about to be commenced. We 
learn from the remarks of our brother that the 
proposal was to pray all night. But some 
months afterwards in speaking to us of that 
meeting, he said when it had continued till 3 
o'clock in the morning with increasing interest, 
it was thought best to close it that they might 
be prepared for the duties of the next day. O 
that Christians could often imitate the example 
of those brethren. 



70 MEMOIR OF 

At the close of this week Mr. Brown left 
Hamilton on a visit to Connecticut. His Diary 
continued for a few succeeding days but contains 
nothing of particular interest, till after his return 
to the Seminary. During this visit his preach- 
ing and conversation we hope did much good. 
He visited us at Fall River, Mass. and preach- 
ed on the afternoon of the Sabbath and in the 
evening to the great satisfaction and profit of the 
hearers. His conversation in private was very 
faithful and he seemed mostly desirous that he 
might be the means of the conversion of sinners. 

As an example of the ingenious method which 
Mr. Brown had learned or devised for improv- 
ing time to the best advantage we mention the 
following. We had been riding in company for 
many miles, till the conversation had become 
rather tiresome from the fatigue of the journey, 
and the multitude of topics which had been in- 
troduced, when he proposed that we should 
quote alternately, texts of scripture containing 
the name of some familiar object, such as tree, 
stone, &,c. and the one who should mention the 
last text containing that word, when the other 
could quote no more, should be considered as 
excelling. We enjoyed the fruits of this in- 
genious device for many hours with much plea- 
sure and profit. We should always select those 
diversions which will be profitable. Such will 
afford as much gratification as those vain and 



RALPH i. BROWN. 71 

wicked amusements in which too many professors 
of religion engage,at the same time that they af- 
ford us lasting benefit. 

Another anecdote will answer a question 
which has often been asked with reference to 
protracted meetings. That is, why the meetings 
of this kind at the West have been so much 
more highly blessed than those held in this 
vicinity o The great secret is, the brethren of 
the Western churches,assembled at those meet- 
ings leaving the affairs of the world at home. 
They came expecting great things, and they 
prayed and labored with reference to the great 
work before them. Parents came burdened 
with the weight of the souls of their unconver- 
ted children. Children came feeling that it was 
the last troubling of the waters, when they 
might bring their unconverted parents. And 
Pastors and Christians felt that this was the 
t'me of awful decision with eternity -bound souls* 
That during the meeting many souls would 
probably decide for Heaven or Hell. They 
felt, too, that their prayers and their conduct as 
ministers and as Christians had much to do in say- 
ing what that decision should be. Under these 
circumstances, sinners were constrained to feel 
that to them the season was infinitely important. 
They came trembling, and the word preached 
found easy access to their hearts. Our dear 
brother had been attending meetings of this 
kind, and came here expecting to find the same 



72 MEMOIR OV 

spirit, but we regret to say, was too much disap* 
pointed. We attended a protracted meeting in 
Exeter, R. I., which was held in a beautiful 
grove, and during a recess we repaired with oth- 
ers to a house in the vicinity for refreshment. — 
On our return from the house, bro. Brown came 
up to me with a very sorrowful, dejected look, 

saying, " Bro. M , would you believe it !- 

I heard one of those aged brethren inquiring the 
price of sheep !-" The offence really appeared 
to be small, but it was altogether incompatible 
with his idea of that faithfulness which Chris- 
tians owe to one another and to the unconverted 
on such occasions. The meeting was blessed 
to the conversion of some souls, but we may 
safely conclude it was not owing to the instru- 
mentality of the brother who thought more of 
sheep than of perishing sinners ! However in- 
nocent it might have been for that brother to 
talk about the affairs of the world under other 
circumstances, it was his duty, when attending 
that meeting, to leave all other things for the 
great work of laboring for the glory of God in 
the salvation of souls. 

During this visit of Mr. Brown, he was in a 
town where there had not been a revival of re- 
ligion for two or three years ; but where consid- 
erable had been done in building a meeting 
house and furnishing it. The pastor of the 



RALPH I. BROWN. 1'A 

church was telling him how much had been 
done, and how greatly things were improved; 
when with a deep sigh he said, " Yes, all (his, 
but no revival" How expressive was this an- 
swer of his view r of the comparative worthless- 
ness of all these improvements ! We may often 
say of new meeting-houses, splendid appearan- 
ces, popular preachers and fashionable hearers — 
all these, but no revival, 

A minister once remarked to us, by way of 
boasting, that he had the gayest congregation in 
the city. Let others take the appearances if 
they desire them, but give us the revivals.' — 
The revival should be the first object ; other 
things may be innocent in their place. 

Mr. Brown spent several weeks in the vicin- 
ity of home, and then started for Hamilton to 
resume his studies. We find the following en- 
trances in his Diary, after his return : — 

Friday, Oct. lith. — It is now evening. — 
This day has passed away, and I have had but 
little enjoyment until about dark. My room- 
mate having gone out, I had a season of solemn 
prayer, and feel much refreshed. I felt to pray 
for myself, for my relatives and for poor sinners. 
My heart melted within me as I thought of 
their condition. I feel perfectly happy, and, 



74 MEMOIR OF 

trust, I am willing to give up myself to God, and 
be for him, and for none else. 

Saturday, \bth.— After breakfast my room- 
mate and myself read a portion of Scripture, as 
our custom is, and I supplicated the throne of 
grace. We had a heavenly time. My heart 
was pained for sinners, who, in this gospel-en- 
lightened land, are going to hell. O, what will 
they do, when God shall take away their souls ! 
—Felt as though I wanted to trample this vain 
world with all its honors and splendors beneath 
my feet, and to know nothing, save Jesus Christ 
and him crucified. This evening, when return- 
ing from the village to the seminary, I thought 
much of heaven, that bright world where we 
shall see the Saviour and be free from this body 
of death. O ! what are all the sorrows of this 
wicked world, if in a short time we shall be car- 
ried home to everlasting rest. 

Friday, %lst. — This day I have been exam- 
ining my past life. In looking back, I find I 
have done but little for God in all my life. I 
have been a professor of religion for a number 
of years ; but, O ! how few the attainments I 
have made in piety — how little holiness of heart 
do I now possess. In view of these things, I 
have concluded to devote to-morrow as a day 
of fasting and prayer, that I may afflict my soul, 
and humble myself before the God of heaven. 



RALPH I. BROWN. 75 

Saturday ', 22d. — Have been trying this morn- 
ing to fix my thoughts on God, and confess to 
him my sins. O, that this may be a day of 
breaking of heart — of getting into the dust with 
me. I would say to this vain world, " Be gone, 
let my religious hours alone." The day has 
passed by, and another week is closed. I have 
tried to spend the day in fasting and prayer, 
and reading devotional books, particularly the 
life and exercises of the pious Brainard. When 
I compare my feelings with his, it seems, if such 
a man as he complained of darkness and stupid- 
itv, I have but little reason to believe that I 
" have passed from death unto life." O^ the 
pride of my heart, and the stubbornness of my 
will ! When shall I be free from this body of sin 
and death ? O, that I might lie in the dust all 
my days. 

Mr. Brown, it appears, made but one more 
entrance in his Diary, and that not till many 
months after the above date. We would not 
publish it, as it speaks so unsparingly against 
himself, w T ere it not for two considerations. One 
of these is, our determination to present the sub- 
ject of this Memoir in his real character, " a 
man of like passions with us," and not to per- 
suade the reader that he was entirely exempt 
from faults. The other consideration is, the 



76 MEMOIR OF 

hope that some backslider, who may read this, 
shall find his own condition and awful responsi- 
bility so touchingly portrayed in the following 
extract, as to be awakened from his guilty slum- 
bers. 

Sunday Evening, March 25th, 1832. — It 
has now been a long time since 1 wrote in my 
Diary. I feel guilty before God. One reason 
is, during a few weeks or months past, I have 
been in a deplorably stupid state. I have had 
little or no feeling for souls that are perishing. — 
My closet duties have been neglected — my ad- 
vancement in study retarded, and a cloud of 
darkness and gloom settled down upon my spirit. 
Where am I ? Where is that ardor of feeling I 
once possessed, or, at least, thought I possess- 
ed ? What course am I pursuing ? Am I a child 
of God, a friend of Jesus, or have I deceived 
myself and others ? Am I not a Judas, or a Si- 
mon Magus ? Am I not one of those who will 
finally meet with deep and dreadful disappoint- 
ment ? fondly dreaming that the breath of hea- 
ven is filling my sails and w 7 afting me onward 
toward the port of endless peace, while in real- 
ity I am sailing down to hell. When I look 
back a few months past, it seems a desert, where 
no bright spot is seen to relieve the eye. O ! 
thou compassionate God, why is my improfit- 



RALPH I. BROWN. 77 

able life prolonged ? Why hast thou kept away 
disease and death from me ? If thou shouidst re- 
move me from the walls of Jerusalem, and nev- 
er permit me to address my dying fellow-men 
again— shouidst thou take thy Holy Spirit from 
me, and leave me to grope in darkness until the 
day of my death, I should have no reason to 
complain. O, may I wake up from this dread- 
ful insensibility, and not, in this day of revivals, 
remain as the heath in the desert. Every con- 
sideration calls upon me to awake. Souls are 
perishing. A world is going down to hell, to 
" dwell with devouring fire," while God is will- 
ing to hear and answer prayer. O, that I might 
have some more earnest desires after God and 
holiness, a disposition to cast the world away, 
and be more consecrated to Christ. I cannot 
*' live at this poor dying rate" any ranger. I am 
a burden to myself. Almighty God. I throw 
myself upon thy mercy. 

" Show pity. Lord, O Lord forgive, 
Let a repenting rebel live." 

Help me, during the week, to watch and pray, 
and avoid every appearance of evil." 

The following are extracts from his letters, 
written while at Hamilton. They exhibit the 
devotional spirit which glowed in the breast of 
g2 



78 MEMOIR OF 

our departed brother, and which commends it- 
self to the notice and the conscience of every 
reader. 

To a young gentleman preparing for the min- 
istry, he writes : 

*' Hamilton, July 19th, 1831. 
I know not where I may be called to labor. 
I feel that I have given myself up to the Lord, 
and wherever he, in his Providence, may open 
the way, there may I go with a cheerful heart, 
looking far away beyond the boundary of sublu- 
nary bliss for a reward. When I left home, I 
thought three years, at the longest, would be 
long enough to spend here. But when I exam- 
ined every circumstance, when I looked abroad 
upon the world and saw what laborers were 
needed, I quickly made up my mind to stay six 
years ; and I bless God that such was my deci- 
sion. If I die before my course is completed, I 
trust I shall feel that 1 have done rio;ht. When 
I jturn my eyes on the world, and behold the 
m llions of my fellow-beings who are going on 
to hell, I cannot but weep that there are so few 
laborers. And when I think of the number of 
young men, even in my own native land, who 
might be preparing for usefulness, but are now 
engaged in the pursuits of the world: ah ! I am 
afraid the curse of God will rest upon them. — 



RALPH I. BROWN. 79 

; where is the young man who has but one 
talent, w T ho will not devote it to the cause of 
Christ? There is only now and then one who 
feels it his duty to give himself up for God.— 
What a multitude of young men are becoming 
merchants, lawyers and physicians, while a few, 
and only a few, are willing to work for the 
Lord. And even professors of religion pursue 
this course. The slumbering church must 
awake, before the blest millennial morning will 
dawn upon the world. 

Probably you are engaged in teaching a class 
in the Sabbath school this season. If so, remem- 
ber your awful responsibility, and wherever you 
go, press upon sinners the importance of being 
reconciled to God. Many precious seasons have 
transpired during my life, when I might have 
warned my youthful companions of their dan- 
ger, but I let these opportunities pass. They 
have gone by — they will return no more, and I 
must answer for the consequences at the judg- 
ment. Be faithful, dear brother, be faithful unto 
death." 

To his brother he writes : 

"Hamilton, Aug. 2d, 1831. 

My Dear Brother, 
It rejoices me to hear of the prosperity of one 



30 MEMOIR OF 

of my near relatives, and the more so ; when I 
have reason to believe that he will be disposed 
to do good with his property. I consider wealth 
to be desirable for no other purpose. I hope, 
if you are prospered, you will not think of as- 
cribing it to chance or good fortune, as many do, 
but will remember it is God who alone "maketh 
you to differ." Your life and health are in his 
hands, and you are dependent on him for every 
good you enjoy. He can easily disappoint your 
fondest hopes, and send blasting and mildew 
over your fairest prospects. O then, dear bro- 
ther, forget not your God. Return him your 
most unfeigned thanks, and be found often in 
prayer. Say not you have not time to pxay. — 
This will be no excuse when an assembled world 
shall crowd around the bar of God.' 5 

He writes again, Feb. 3d, 1832, to his broth- 
er, in New- York city: 

" As for riches, I pant not for them. They 
will quickly vanish away. Should I possess 
them in abundance, they will not drive away 
the cares and perplexities of life. I often drop 
a tear, as I look over the world and see how vast 
a proportion of the human family are chasing 
the shadowy objects of time and sense, which 
will soon be dashed like the bubble on the ruf- 



RALPH 1. BROWN. 81 

fled stream. O, when will men begin to act as 
rational beings, and be less solicitous about the 
things of this world, and fix their eager eyes 
upon the crown that will never fade away? You 
request my prayers that you may live a life de- 
voted to God, and be preserved from those 
snares with which you are surrounded in a vo- 
luptuous city. Yes, you shall have them. I 
will pray to God that you may turn away from 
the voice of temptation, and keep yourself un- 
spotted from the world. 1 need not tell you 
that dangers lurk around your path. Many 
young men, who supposed their " mountain 
stood strong," have at last been ruined. How 
many have listened to the voice of temptation, 
perhaps at first with a consciousness that there 
was danger, but have at length become so famil- 
iarized with it, that they have been almost im- 
perceptibly drawn away from the path of purity 
into the coils of vice. Beware, dear brother, of 
the first step in sin. " One compliance prepares 
us for another," and another, till the flood-gates 
of iniquity are opened, and then farewell to vir- 
tue, reputation, and all that is dear to us. But 
why need I dwell upon this subject ? Is there 
danger that you will finally break away from 
the restraints of religion, and plunge yourself 
into vice and degradation ? I should apprehend 
no such danger, if I were sure you spent full a 



82 ME MO HI OF 

half hour each day in reading the Scriptures, in 
meditation and in secret prayer. But when we 
are bent upon making money, we are liable to 
neglect prayer and forget that God has claims 
upon us. When we do so, we are like a ship 
on the bosom of the stormy deep, without a rud- 
der or a compass. O, I conjure you, by all 
that is tender and endearing, not to forget your 
closet." 

We copy the following portion of the same 
letter, as it is an appeal to thousands, who are 
not ministers, to exert themselves in the cause 
of Christ. The feeling is too prevalent among 
private Christians, that all the self-denial and 
sacrifice for the cause of Christ belong to the 
minister. They can pursue the course which 
will be the means of their obtaining the most 
money, without any reference to the conversion 
of sinners, while the minister must sacrifice his 
ease, property, health and life for the cause of 
religion. Many a faithful minister has slept in 
an untimely grave, owing to this disposition 
among his lay brethren. The truth is, God has 
made it the duty of all his children to " seek 
first the kingdom of God and his righteousness," 
and He will not hold him guiltless who conducts 
otherwise. It is the duty of every Christian to 
seek that place of residence and follow that pur- 



RALPH 1. BROWN. 83 

suit in which he can be the means of converting 
the greatest number of souls. O, that we could 
convince Christians of this duty. Thousands 
of those who profess to love God more than all 
beside, and have publicly repeated the language 
of the Apostle, " God forbid that I should glory 
save in the cause of our Lord Jesus Christ, by 
w T hom I am crucified to the w T orld and the world 
is crucified to me," consult their ow T n pecuniary 
interest in most of their plans and conduct. — 
They locate themselves in cities and large towns 
where their influence is lost among the multi- 
tude of professed Christians, while the feeble 
churches of surrounding villages are struggling 
for life against the opposition of the unconvert- 
ed multitude. And why is this ? What excuse 
can these Christians render up to God in the 
day of judgment ? Not that it would be for the 
glory of God, or the good of souls, but because 
they could make money faster. If ever the 
world is converted, much of it must be done by 
private Christians. And in all their conduct 
they must make the glory of God and the con- 
version of souls their first business. But we in- 
vite the attention of the reader to the voice of 
our departed brother, " who being dead yet 
speaketh." 

" I sometimes think you are not pursuing that 



84 MEMOIR OF 

course which is your duty. You might be use- 
ful, eminently useful in the church of God. — 
And to do this, you are not obliged to preach ; 
there are other courses you could pursue. You 
might become a Sunday school teacher in the 
gre°at valley of the Mississippi, and be instru- 
mental in the conversion of thousands who oth- 
erwise will be lost. And suppose you should 
be instrumental in the conversion of one soul, 
contrast its incomparable value with all the 
pomp and splendor of a wicked world." 

To the Rev. Albert G. Palmer he writes : 

" Hamilton, May 23. 1832. 

Deaji Brother, 
* * * # # i t seems by your letter you have 
commenced publishing the messages of mercy 
to sinners. If there is any thing which affords 
me peculiar pleasure, it is to see young men, 
just setting out in life, devoting themselves to 
the service of the blessed Redeemer. True, the 
situation that the minister of the Lord Jesus is 
called to occupy, is an awfully responsible one. 
It is a station where difficulties crowd upon us 
from every quarter. One which calls for much 
self-denial, watchfulness, and an earnest solici- 
tude for the salvation of sinners, who, in vast 
multitudes, are pressing on to the gates of ever- 



RALPH I. BROWN, 85 

lasting death. But there are some softening 
shades to this picture. There are precious prom- 
ises to the children of God. O, if it were not 
for these*, how often should we sink down in 
despair ! But the promise of the Saviour, " Lo, 
I am with you alway," cheers our drooping 
spirits, nerves us for the " bitter struggle," and 
arms us with undying fortitude to "fight the 
battles of the Lord.' ? 

In a letter to his mother, dated September 
8th, 1832, he speaks of visiting the family of 
a distant relative, and thus describes the head 
of the family, and the interview with him : 

" He has the appearance of an old man. 
His locks are white, and the decrepitude of age 
is settling down upon him. Alas ! he still con- 
tinues to drink ardent spirits. Just before leav- 
ing, I talked with him upon the subject of 
religion. I asked him what were his hopes for 
eternity ? He held down his head, and answer- 
ed somewhat hesitatingly, ' I believe the Uni- 
versalist doctrine is about as true as any. 5 Poor 
old man, thought I, can it be that you are going 
to launch into the ocean of eternity upon such 
a frail plank as this ! I tried to remind him of 
the brevity of life, the vanity of earthly things, 
and advised him no longer to cling to a hope 
u 



$6 MEMOIR Off 

which c is as a spider's web/ and which would 
destroy his soul." 

He speaks in the same letter of visiting two 
other relatives, who were very wealthy, and 
after describing their possessions and style of 
living, says: 

" But alas ! neither of them seem anxious to 
lay up a treasure in Heaven. I left on Tues- 
day, having had a very pleasant visit. When 
I rode away I thought to myself, of how little 
consequence is the wealth of this w r orld. It 
will not afford consolation in the hour of death, 
it will not purchase the favor of heaven, nor 
benefit us in eternity. O, it is better to pine 
in poverty and be rich toward God, than to ride 
in chariots of splendor and receive all c our good 
things in this life.' When will men learn to 
place a proper estimate upon ETERNITY." 

To a brother in the ministry he writes, under 
date of November 18, 1832: 

" I sometimes try to take enlarged views of 
the world, but O my heart sinks within me and 
a chill comes over my spirits when I think of 
the situation of the human family, the greatest 
proportion of whom are in the ' broad road/ 



RALPH I. BROWN. Si 

passing on to death. And I sometimes ask 
myself, must all these beings go down to hell, 
to endure forever the frown of the Almighty ? 
I stretch my thoughts onward into eternity, and 
reflect upon the. amount of suffering they must 
endure — my soul shudders at the prospect, and 
1 am ready to cry out, O cannot I do some- 
thins; towards saving these multitudes from such 
a fearful doom ? I feel at times willing to go 
any where, and cheerfully make any sacrifice 
God shall require." 

In the same letter from which the above ex- 
tract is made, we find the following remarks : 

• 

" I perceive, by your letter, that you still 
think of getting a better education. I know 
not what will be the best course for you, but I 
am fully convinced it is our duty to become 
learned men if circumstances will permit. It 
may enable us to exert a wide influence while 
living, and our writings may render us useful 
long after we sleep in death, and may tell upon 
the destinies of unborn millions. Professor 
Sears, in lecturing upon this subject, not long 
since, made the following remark : ' President 
Wayland preached a sermon, (the moral dignity 
of the Missionary enterprize) a kw years since 3 
and he has had, continues to have, and will 
continue to have, the world for his audience.'' ' 



88 MEMOIR OF 

To his mother he writes, December 13, 
1832: 

" This is Thanksgiving day in the State of 
New York. Professor H. has preached us a 
sermon from Romans i. 21, in which the duty 
of thanksgiving to God was plainly pointed out. 
I have been thinking, that if there is a debt of 
gratitude due from any one to God, surely it is 
due from me. Heaven has showered upon me 
its choicest blessings, from infancy till the pre- 
sent time. While death in a thousand forms 
has been abroad in the world, his shafts have 
not reached me. While thousands have pined 
in want, I have always had an abundance of the 
good things of this life. In addition to these 
things, I have been remarkably preserved from 
sickness ; for, I do not recollect of ever having 
what may be called, in the strictest sense of the 
word, a sick day in my life. There are other 
blessings I have received, more than I can men- 
tion. I have had the Bible to read — was taught 
in early life to reverence God — was preserved 
from outbreaking crimes — and, above all, I trust 
that God has pardoned my sins, and given me 
a hope rich with immortality. Certainly, then, 
I have abundant reason for deep and heartfelt 
gratitude ; but O, my thankfulness has not been 
proportionate to the blessings received. I would 



RALPH I. BILOWN. 89 

desire to possess a heart overflowing with grati- 
tude, to have the feelings of the Psalmist when 
he said, f O praise the Lord, for his mercy en- 
dureth forever.' " 

He writes, December 30, 1832: 

£■;•*■** " It affords me peculiar pleasure to 
hear from home, to hear that my friends were 
all well, &;c. &c. But I cannot express my 
feelings of joy when I learned that cousin I. P. 
L. had concluded to abandon the practice of 
medicine, and commence a course of study pre- 
paratory to the ministry of reconciliation. My 
heart bounded within me as I read his interest- 
ing letter. Surely, thought I, this looks like 
making some sacrifice for Christ. To abandon 
a profession that has cost him years of hard 
study, and voluntarily relinquish all prospect of 
accumulating the riches of this world, (for you 
know preachers are generally poor) is a matter 
of no small importance. And for what does he 
make this sacrifice ? For the privilege of preach- 
ing Christ crucified, to an impenitent world per- 
ishing in their sins. O how interesting to see 
the young men of our land taking a decided 
stand for God. I see them, after having com- 
pleted their education, as they go forth into the 
world publishing the messages of mercy. I see 
h2 



90 MEMOIR 01" 

infidelity turning pale, and guilt shrinking back 
and withering at their approach. I see a host 
turning to God through their instrumentality, 
while they are exerting an influence that will 
roll down in a broad and deep current to the 
last space of recorded time. I extend my 
thoughts onward to eternity, and see a multi- 
tude rising up to call them blessed. Who, that 
they may accomplish such an amount of good, 
will not make any sacrifice the gospel requires ; 
will not, if necessary, turn away from the cher- 
ished delights of home, to preach the gospel to 
the heathen ?" 

The instance alluded to above, of the young 
gentleman who changed his profession from a 
sense of duty, was a noble example of personal 
sacrifice for the good of souls. One which, we 
hope, will be followed by hundreds of young 
men who ought to " let the dead bury their 
dead, and come and follow" Christ. The time 
has arrived when Christians must be willing to 
make every sacrifice the gospel ministry re- 
quires, if they would be accepted with God, and 
see the world converted. 

He writes, June 25, 1833, (speaking of the 
same relatives alluded to in his letter of Sep- 
tember 8, 1832 :) 



RALPH I. BROWN. 91 

" They seem bent upon, the accumulation of 
wealth. They are not open opposers of re- 
ligion, but while driving after the world, they 
find no time to attend to their interests beyond 
the grave. O the inexplicable folly of man ! 
4 How wise for time, but how improvident for 
eternity !' When will men make religion (as it 
should be) the all-absorbing subject, instead of 
crowding it into the last corner of their lives?" 

In the spring of 1833, Mr. Brown's health 
had become considerably impaired by study, 
and it was considered best for him to take a 
journey for its improvement. He accordingly 
spent several weeks in. visiting the western part 
of the State of New York, Niagara Falls, &c. 
He speaks of the unparalleled kindness of all 
the ministers whom he visited. Of the great 
natural curiosity mentioned above, he says : 

" The next morning I took the stage, and 
soon Niagara Falls, the wonder of the world, 
burst full upon my sight. I reached Niagara 
village about 10 o'clock, and staid there until 
the next day about the same time. My ex- 
pectations concerning the Falls were much 
raised, and I was some afraid I should be dis- 
appointed ; and indeed I was disappointed, but 
not as I feared, for they were more grand and 



$% MKM01R OF 

imposing than I had anticipated. I visited 
Goat Island, crossed over on the Canada side 
below the Falls, stood on ' Table Rock/ where 
I had the best view of the scene. If ever a 
person feels emotions of sublimity, it is when 
gazing at such a spectacle as this. But my 
pen would do it injustice, if I should attempt 
to describe the overpowering grandeur of the 
scene." 

He returned to Hamilton in June, and attend- 
ed the Commencement of the Institution. He 
speaks of this as a season of uncommon inter- 
est, from the fact that Mr. Wade and his wife, 
Missionaries to Burmah. were present, accom- 
panied by several of the converted heathen. — 
We can perceive by a letter written some time 
after, in which he describes this scene, that bro. 
Brown enjoyed it with religious enthusiasm. 
He speaks of the address of Mr. Wade, and the 
answers to questions proposed to the Burman 
and Karen converts, the remarks of Prof. Sears 
to the graduating class, and all the exercises, 
with rapturous delight. One of the class, about 
to leave the Institution, (Mr. Comstock) had 
been Mr. Brown's room-mate ; they had been 
intimate, and were about to be separated, per- 
haps till they met in eternity. This, with other 



KALPH I, BROWxV. 93 

circumstances, made the day one of peculiar in- 
terest to our departed brother, and he profited 
greatly by the scene. 



CHAPTER III. 

From the time lie left Hamilton till his death. Remarks, 

&,c. 

In the summer of 1833, Mr. Brown was in- 
vited to become the Principal of the Seminary 
for young ladies in Pawtuxet, which was then 
about to be opened. He consented, with the 
understanding that he should continue to occu- 
py that situation for one year only, when he 
expected to resume his studies. His object in 
this arrangement was to obtain the means of 
defraying the expenses he had already incurred, 
and to prepare for the completion of his course. 

On his return from the West, it was easily 
perceptible that during the two years of his ab- 
sence, he had made great advances in piety. In 
one respect especially was this the case. Per- 
haps Mr. Brown's greatest fault was too great 
cheerfulness, if this term expresses the besetting 
sin of many ministers, to which we allude ; we 
would hardly call it rudenesss, as this term im- 
plies more than we design to express. We know 
that much may be urged in favor of a degree of 
lightness in some ministers. Their natural tem- 
perament is such they are easily moved to sor- 
row or joy — their close mental application to 



RALPH I. BROWN. 95 

their studies— their constant and very deep anx- 
ety in their labors— and many other circum- 
stances, might be urged, and often are urged in 
favor of the relaxation which is enjoyed in those 
seasons of lightness. But we must admit, let 
the censure fall where it may, that these ex- 
cuses, however plausible, when carried forward 
to the judgment, will not abide the test. We 
should not think such conduct pardonable in a 
physician, when standing at the bed-side of his 
dying patient, or in the Judge on the bench, 
when trying a fellow-creature in a cause of life 
and death, or in the minister when standing on 
the scaffold as the messenger of God to the 
guilty, condemned culprit, about to be launched 
into eternity. And yet every hour, every mo- 
ment of the minister's life, is no less solemn. 
He stands as the messenger of mercy, :i the 
legate of the skies," between Almighty God and 
guilty man. How affectingly solemn is the 
consideration that the minister is surrounded by 
immortal souls bound to the judgment, and all 
the retributions of Eternity! That by every 
word he speaks he is exerting an influence on 
all around him, for weal or wo ! The trifling 
conversation heard from the minister, by the 
careless sinner, may be the last words of the 
former which shall sound in the ears of that 
sinner, till they meet in the day of judgment. 



96 Mi:Mom of 

The resolutions of Mr. Brown that he would 
tell no anecdote unless it would be for God's 
glory, and that he would try not to laugh loud, 
nor talk unprofitably, had a happy influence 
over his naturally lively disposition. When he 
again visited his friends, after the long absence 
alluded to, his more than usual solemnity, his 
extensive views of Christian duty, and his warm 
devotion to whatever appeared to be for the 
glory of God and the good of souls, gave evi- 
dence that he was fast ripening for heaven* 
But plain as were these indications of Divine 
Providence, we were slow to admit their truth. 
We fondly hoped it was but the greater expan- 
sion of the beautiful flower, which is destined 
long to exert its delightful influence upon all 
around it. But alas ! the frosts of death were 
preparing to blast our fondest hopes. 

He arrived in North Stonington in July, 
spent several months in preaching there and 
in the vicinity, and came to Pawtuxet in Au- 
gust* The time till the school commenc- 
ed in September, he occupied in study, preach- 
ing and visiting his friends. The school opened 
under prosperous circumstances, and he was 
highly gratified with his situation. We an- 
ticipated much pleasure and profit from his 
society ; but how suddenly and sadly were we 
disappointed. He preached once on the Sab- 



RALPH I. BROWN. VM 

bfilh to the congregation in Pawtuxet, a short 
time before he died. As it was the last time., 
we cannot forbear a remark upon the circum- 
stances. How solemn is the reflection that min- 
isters must preach their last sermon ! There is 
a dying effort, the last message from our lips to 
guilty men. Our brother preached his last ser- 
mon in the pulpit which in the providence of 
God the writer at that time statedly occupied. 
His subject was on "counting the cost,'' as 
found in Luke xiv :28. He was pointed, affec- 
tionate and faithful. He endeavored to awaken 
his hearers to a sense of the infinite responsibil- 
ity which devolved on them as immortal, ac- 
countable beings, and we hope with some suc- 
cess. He was then in excellent health, and one 
would have supposed from seeing him that day, 
that no person had fairer prospects of protracted 
usefulness. Doubtless our brother thought so, 
but how were we all mistaken. It was his last 
sermon. Could he have been apprized that 
morning of this fact, how would he have preach- 
ed ! Could he have known that he was ascend- 
ing to the pulpit for the last time — could he 
have been apprized that his words were the 
last message to his eternity-bound congregation- 
could he have felt that he was leaving the pul- 
pit for the last time — that in a few days his 
coffin would be placed before that pulpit, hold- 



98 MEMOIR OF 

ing him in the cold embrace of death — how 
would he have felt ! — how would he have 
preached ! Reader, if you are a minister, O re- 
member there is a last sermon ! And the next 
may be the last. If you are not a minister, 
there is a last sermon to be heard, and you 
must hear the last. The last accents of mercy 
will die away on your ears, and the next may 
be the last. This principle ought to be im- 
pressed on the minds of all who preach and all 
who hear the gospel. Ministers should preach 
as if they knew the moment they closed the 
sermon, the Lord God would call them imme- 
diately to the judgment ! How solemn, how 
deeply and awfully solemn to go from the pul- 
pit to the judgment ! And yet this has been 
true of many ministers ; it may be true of me, 
of you, my reader. O! preach every sermon, 
hear every sermon, as though it were the last. 
The poet said, and may we truly say, 

?* I preach as if I ne'er might preach again, 
And as a dying tnafi to 4ying men, ,: 

One of the kings of England once remarked of 
a minister, " he preaches to me as if death stood 
at his elbow" 

He continued his school till Wednesdajr, Oc- 
tober 23d. On Thursday he felt so much un- 
well it was thought best for him to remain quiet 



RALPH I. BROWN. 99 

a few days, not doubting but in a short time he 
would be able to resume the charge of the insti- 
tution under his care. He continued to be con- 
fined with a slow fever, no one supposing him 
dangerous till Friday, November 1st, when our 
family physician thought it best to call in a phy- 
sician from Providence. The physician from 
Providence came the same day, and pronounced 
the symptoms alarming. Saturday they were 
much more so, and it was thought he might not 
live through the day. We sent to Connecticut 
for his mother, and during the night he rested 
but little. During the first of his sickness he 
•appeared anxious to recover. He said, " con- 
sidering the circumstances under w T hich I am 
now placed, 1 can hardly consent to die. I am 
now young and have scarcely done any thing 
yet for Christ. I have long been confined to 
my studies, and have just entered a situation in 
which I hoped to do much good. I want to 
wear out my life in the service of my blessed 
Saviour. I would willingly live a long life and 
expose myself to every hardship, if I could be 
instrumental in converting souls to Christ. ?? — 
Another subject of anxiety with him w T as the 
fact that he owed several individuals who had 
assisted him in his course of study, and he feared 
if he should die they would be obliged to suffer 
loss. It was some time before we could recon- 



lOO MEMOIR OF 

cile bis mind to giving up this subject. Mr, 
Brown had involved himself somewhat beyond 
his means of paying, though he had made very 
laudable efforts to pay his expenses as far as 
possible while engaged in his studies. He 

taught a school durino; the vacations of the Sem- 

© © 

inary, while the longest was twelve weeks ; and 
when the time of the vacations was changed to 
six weeks in the spring and the same in the fall, 
he occupied the time in procuring subscribers 
for different periodicals, and this was a part of 
his business when he traveled to the West. — 
When he became the principal of the institution 
in Pawtuxet, he had the flattering prospect of 
being able to pay all his dues in a few months. 
And it is due to him that those who suffered the 
loss alluded to, should know that on his death- 
bed he spoke with gratitude of their kindness to' 
him, and most sincerely regretted that they could 
not be repaid by him. We soon succeeded in 
convincing him that he had done what he 
thought was his duty, and must leave the whole 
with God. 

When his sister went into the room he called 
her to him and sweetly and calmly said, " Mary, 
I have been thinking perhaps my death may be 
productive of more good than I could possibly 
do in a long life. Who knows, (continued he, 
with much earnestness) who knows but God 



RALPH I. BROWN. 101 

may make my death the means of con verting 
one soul? O, I can willingly die. I know that 
God will do right, and to him 1 will commit the 
whole!" 

Early Sunday morning there was a sinking of 
the whole system, and we thought him dying. 
Just as we thought the last moment had arrived, 
he said, " Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly, and 
take me to thy own dear self." A heavenly 
smile rested on his countenance, and he said— 
" Dying, it is pleasant. Dying, it is pleasant. 
It is pleasant." Soon after, he said, " This 
may not be death. I fondly thought I was go- 
ing. I was just entering heaven. I saw my 
Saviour extend his hand to receive me. But I 
must stay a little longer. And this is only a 
foretaste of what I shall soon enjoy." 

After this he said, " Mary, raise that curtain ' 
that I may see the sun once more." He lay in 
an upper room commanding a delightful view of 
the most enchanting scenery. The sun was just 
rising, the broad bay was covered with sails 
beautifully ploughing its smooth surface ; all 
the surrounding objects seemed to speak of God 
and heaven, and add to the beauty and sublimity 
of the scene. He turned his eyes toward the 
window, and had a full view of the prospect 
from where he lay. " O," said he, " how 
pleasant ; but I shall see the sun rise no more. 
i2 



102 MEMOIR OF 

and to-morrow 1 shall be in a far more pleasant 
place." O, how heavenly was that scene ! 
vVe all felt, 

" The chamber where the good man meets his fate, 

Is privileged above the common walk 

Of virtuous life, quite on the verge of heaven.' J 

He soon after revived considerably, and we 
found that he was not immediately dying. He 
was very anxious to see all the young ladies of 
his school, that he might converse with them ; 
but his physician thought it was not advisable. 
To a friend who called to see him, and who 
was not a professor of religion, he said — " You 
have been very kind to me, you are an excel- 
lent moral man, but all this is not religion ; you 
must be born again. You may now see the 
value of being prepared to die. While I lie 
here on this bed of sickness and pain and death, 
my mind is not disturbed by fears and anxieties 
about dying ; but I love to lie here and glance 
a thought away to heaven, and feel that there 
is my home." 

To another, after entreating him not to place 
his affections on the world, but to live devoted 
to God, he added — " Do not, for one moment, 
admit the thought that God may possibly save 
all mankind ; for, though he is merciful, he is 
just. I see his flaming justice now — out of 
Christ he is a consuming fire" 



RALPH 1, BROWN. 103 

'• Ah !" said he, " I well remember the first 
sermon I ever preached. It was from the text, 
i For lam not ashamed of the gospel of Christ J 
And I remember another. It stands before me 
now, in broad and living capitals : — 6 God so 
loved the world, that he gave his only begotten 
Son, that whosoever believeth on him might 
not perish, but have everlasting life? " 

About twelve o'clock at noon, he appeared 
to be dying, and we were anxious he should 
take something to revive the system, in hopes 
that there was still a possibility he might re- 
cover. But he was exceedingly reluctant, from 
his anxiety to " depart and be with Christ.' 3 It 
was a long time before he would take any thing, 
and then not till we had used every argument 
which would be likely to influence him. We 
told him it might prolong his life for a few hours 
till his mother should arrive. He replied, " I 
want to see my dear mother, but I feel that I 
cannot stay. 3 ' The physicians came in just at 
that time, and one of them remarked that he 
might possibly live twenty or thirty years to 
labor in the cause of Christ. But he answered 
him very pleasantly — " Doctor, you know I 
cannot recover ; if there were any prospect of 
it, I should be willing to live to do good, but I 
want to go now." He finally consented to take 



,104 MEMOIR OF 

something, and when the physician presented 
the spoon to his lips, containing spirits of am- 
monia, he positively refused to take it, till as- 
sured that it contained no ardent spirits. After 
this he revived again, and was able to converse 
freely for some hours. He was in a heavenly 
frame of mind during the day, and often repeat- 
ed with strong emotion, 



-Roll swifter round ye wheels of time. 
And bring the welcome day." 



And, 



" Jerusalem, my happy home. 
O, how I long for thee." 

He also often repeated, with great rapture, 

" Jesus can make a dying bed 

Feel soft as downy pillows are, 
While on his breast J lean my head, 

And breathe my life out sweetly there." 

At one time during the day he remarked — 
" What a new aspect divine things appear to 
have in the hour of death ! how much more 
sure are all the promises ! how much brighter 
is every prospect of heaven. If I had known 
this, I should never have been afraid to die." 
The reader must indulge us in a remark upon 
the infinitely important sentiment contained in 
the above sentence. At death, the world and 



RALPH I. BROWN. 105 

all its trifling concerns are swept away by the 
strong tide of eternal realities which sets in upon 
the soul. At that moment all the powers of 
the mind are possessed of unusual strength. If 
the dying man be a Christian, the world is for- 
gotten, and in letting go his hold on the earth, 
he grasps heaven the more firmly. Looking 
away from all below, he gazes with more in- 
tense interest on things above. His nearness 
to eternity gives him a fuller and plainer view 
of heavenly bliss, and he is astonished that he 
finds so easy a conquest over death, and that 
the triumph is so complete. His faith with 
new power beholds Christ as the destroyer "of 
the last enemy," leading " captivity captive,' 7 
and he triumphantly exclaims, even in the last 
struggles, 

" Tell me, my soul, can this be death ?" 

He finds iC the valley of the shadow ol death," 
which before appeared dark and gloomy, lighted 
up by the Sun of righteousness, and made de- 
lightfully pleasant by the presence of the bles- 
sed Saviour and a bright retinue of celestial 
spirits ; and he exclaims with our departed 
brother, Had I known this ivas dying, 1 should 
never have been afraid to die. Reader, are you 
a Christian ? If so, you need not fear death, 
Live on fearlessly, but faithfully, and when 



106 MEMOIR OF 



, 



deatb shall come, he will be a messenger 
mercy. A death-bed shall be to you " the 
gate of heaven." Then shall you feel the truth 
of what the poet has said : 

" Jesus, the vision of thy face 

Hath overpow'ring charms; 
Scarce shall I feel death's cold embrace, 

If Christ be in my arms." 

But if the dying man has not not made his 
peace with God, the fact is not changed. There 
is the same increase of mental energy, the same 
nearness to eternity ; and the only difference 
is in the different objects which meet his view 
and the different feelings which he possesses. 
Then conscience wakes up from its long and 
deep slumbers — then the slighted offers of mer- 
cy, the broken law, and above all, a rejected 
Saviour " trodden under foot," appear before 
the dying sinner in all the blazing light of Eter- 
nity ! Reader, if you are not a Christian, think 
of the terror, the untold agony of that fearful 
moment, when in the language of the Lord of 
hosts, " your destruction cometh as*a whirlwind, 
when distress and anguish cometh upon you !" 
You can "cast off the thoughts of dying," and 
be prayerless and indifferent in health; but 
death is coming, " on all the rapid wings of 
time," and u there is no peace to the wicked, 
saith my God." In the hour of death vou will 



RALPH I. BROWN. 107 

find it true. Then as the waves of the sea 
never rest, so shall the waves of dying sorrow 
begin their ceaseless rolling over your guilty 
soul. Now is the time to escape that storm ; 
and do not forget this one fact, that in the hour 
of death all things will appear before you in 
the light of eternity, aud you had better be 
prepared for that awful hour. 

11 Fools men may live, but fools they cannot die." 

The prisoner sleeps, and dreams that he is 
rich and honorable, and surrounded by all the 
pleasures of the world ; but soon he is awaken- 
ed by the heavy footsteps and the harsh voice 
of the executioner, summoning him to the fatal 
scaffold. Alas ! how sad his disappointment ! 
how mournful the change ! So the sleeping, 
careless sinner is dreaming of wealth and honor 
and pleasure. But O, the voice of death will 
soon rouse him from his slumbers, and he must 
" awake to shame and everlasting contempt." 

Mr. Brown continued to fail during the after- 
noon, but was able to converse with his mother, 
who arrived toward the close of the day. We 
anticipated that the shock would be very heavy 
to her in losing such a son ; but she found him 
so triumphantly happy, so delighted with the 
prospect of dying, that she rejoiced, instead of 
mourning. He called her to his bed side, be- 



I0<3 M KM OIK OF 

lore he died, and smiling, said—" Mother, let 
me take the last look at you ; I am going to 
join the society of the redeemed above. " In 
the evening he was so much deranged by weak- 
ness as to be insensible, and about nine o'clock, 
fell sweetly asleep in Jesus. 

This is but a faint description of the last day 
of our departed brother. We may exclaim with 
an eminent divine, "how many years of pleasure 
does such a dying moment overbalance!" O 
the power, the excellency of religion ! "Divine 
Christianity ! it is thine only to comfort and sup- 
port the languishing and the dying." Death 
never appeared so to us before. Its gloom and 
terror were dispelled before the triumphs of the 
cross. While we stood by his bedside, we could 
not make it seem like death. It seemed like 
one going home, after a long absence from the 
place he most fondly loved. It was the joy of 
the prisoner when his prison doors are opened 
and he is permitted to go free. It was the re- 
joicing of the ransomed slave when his chains 
are knocked off. Nay, it was more ; it was the 
rapture of the dying saint. It w T as the last 
shout of conquest of the ransomed spirit over 
all the powers of darkness. It was the joy 
which " eye hath not seen, nor ear heard," but 
which the dying Christian feels when he sees 
" the heavens open and Jesus sitting on the 
right hand of God." 



R.\LPH t. BROWN. 109 

On the next Tuesday, his remains were car- 
ried to the meeting-house, where a very solemn 
and appropriate discourse was delivered by the 
Rev. R. E. Pattison, of Providence, from the 
words of the Saviour — " Be ye also ready, for 
in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of 
Man cometh." A large congregation assem- 
bled to pay the last duties of respect to one 
who, though he had resided with them but a 
short time, yet long enough to gain their affec- 
tions. His remains were deposited in a tomb in 
the village, for a few months, and then removed 
to his native town. 

Thus faded, withered, died, one of the fairest 
flowers in the garden of God ; one of the bright-" 
«st ornaments of the Church. And how sadly 
were we disappointed I Our anticipations in re- 
gard to his future course were exceedingly high. 
We hoped to enjoy his society, and see him 
show to others the prevailing passion of his 
heart ; that pure kindness and holy benevolence, 
so seldom found on earth, and yet so essential to 
human happiness. Wer had hoped to see him 
a champion of the cross, comforting the saints 
as a ci son of consolation," bearing down the 
opposition of infidelity with the power of the 
cross, and winning souls to Christ as a mes- 
senger of mercy. And surely the commence« 



110 MEMOIR OF 

merit of his career promised all this. The 
fields, all whitened for the harvest, the few 
laborers in readiness to reap that harvest, ap- 
peared to give assurance that the life of one so 
promising must be spared, and that we should 
realize our anticipations ; but, a few days con- 
vinced us that " God seeth not as man seeth," 
and in our disappointment we were compelled 
to say, with the patriarch, " He holdeth back 
the face of his throne and spreadeth His cloud 
upon it." In our bitter disappointment, our 
irreparable loss, we " mourn, but not as those 
who mourn without hope." We mourn as 
those who see the frosts of winter destroy the 
buds of fairest promise, but who look for conso- 
lation to another spring, which shall restore in 
greater beauty the faded flowers. 

Mr. Brown was a member of the Pawtuxet 
Lyceum, and at a meeting subsequent to his 
death, a resolution was passed appointing a 
committee to address a letter to the friends of 
the deceased, expressing their regret for the 
loss of so valuable a member of their Society, 
and their sympathy with his friends in their 
deep affliction. The letter of the committee 
is given to the public, because it is so ex- 
pressive of the character of our departed bro- 
ther. 



RALPH I. BKOWN. Ill 

"Pawtuxet, December 25th, 1833. 
To the Friends and Relatives of Mr. Brown, 
late Preceptor of the Young Ladies' Insti- 
tute in Paivtuxet, R. I. 
At a public meeting of the Pawtuxet Lyceum, 
it was voted, that a committee be appointed to 
address a letter to the friends of Mr. Brown, 
expressing their regret for the loss of so valu- 
able a member of their Society and their sym- 
pathy with his friends for their deep affliction. 
Through this affecting dispensation of Provi- 
dence, many are called to mourn the loss of 
one dearly beloved, and lament his premature 
departure to the world of spirits. There were 
none among us in whom we had more confi- 
dence, as a gentleman and a Christian. While 
with us he was much respected by all who knew 
him, and highly esteemed by all his acquaint- 
ances. As a preacher, he was animated ; as a 
teacher, he was beloved. He was a valuable 
member of society and an agreeable companion 
His piety was fervent, yet unostentatious ; — his 
sickness was short, his death triumphant. He 
met the autumn of 1833 in the full vigor of 
health, happy in the bloom and brilliancy of the 
morning of life, buoyant with hopes unclouded 
by disappointment, and blessed with a constitu- 
tion hitherto untouched by disease. But be- 
fore the autumnal leaves had half fallen, he was 
k2 



I 12 MEMOIR OF 

seized with a burning lever, which, with rapid 
and resistless force, wasted the springs of life, 
and rendered unavailing the sympathies of 
friends and the power of art. At once a model 
of patience and resignation, he exhibited during 
his last illness striking proofs of his happy dis- 
position and calm serenity of mind. Sensible 
that his days were numbered, he applied to the 
great Physician of souls, to whom he had dedi- 
cated himself at a very early period in life, and 
received consoling and grateful assurance of 
peace. After a sickness of about ten days, he 
committed his soul to God, and departed in 
triumph for his heavenly home. A large circle 
of friends mourn his early demise, and deeply 
sympathize with the mother, brothers and sis- 
ters in this trying bereavement. The qualities 
which secured to him so unusual a portion of 
love and esteem, were, a heart free from malice 
and guile, manners open and engaging, with a 
deportment void of offence to all. the fruit of a 
happy equanimity of mind; but the sweeter the 
ties that bind, the more agonizing the pangs of 
separation. His death, although a public loss, 
yet to him is doubtless gai n . e has gone, we 
trust, to partake of the richest blessings of that 
gospel which he so warmly recommended to 
others, and, for the preaching of which, he had 
early prepared himself. 



JttALPfl 1. MtfWN. |13 

F&ravvell, blessed spirit ! we cling with mourn- 
ful pleasure to the recollection of thy mild vir- 
tues and amiable graces in health and in sick- 
ness, and rejoice that divine grace enabled thee, 
amid the agonies of dissolution, to meet fear- 
lessly the king of terrors, and in calm and placid 
hope, to fall asleep in the arms of thy Saviour. 
Though unspeakable our loss, our sorrow is 
turned into joy, in view of thy happy exchange 
from suffering to glory. God hath mercifully 
vouchsafed this rich assurance to temper our 
untold affliction, and though severe the stroke^ 
we acknowledge and bless the dispensing hand, 
Through faith our griefs are assuaged. 

" We see around Immanuel's throne. 

Another spirit bowing ; 
Low at his feet it casts its crown, 

With Jove and rapture glowing. 

His body rests in hope, to rise 
When the glad trump is waking j 

His soul with Jesus in the skies, 
Of endless joys partaking." 

William T. Esten." 

When the news of Mr. Brown's death was 
communicated to the faculty and students of the 
Hamilton Seminary, Rev. S. S. Whitman, one 
of the Professors, was appointed to preach a ser- 
mon to the students, with reference to the af- 
k3 



114 MEMOIR, &C. 

fecting event. We subjoin an extract of a letter 
received from Professor W. He says of Mr. 
Brown : 

" He sustained an honorable connexion with 
the Institution till his death, and died respected 
and beloved by all his fellow students. Al- 
though cut down in the morning of his days, 
yet his name will not soon be forgotten in the 
Seminary, which we hoped he would live to 
adorn. But the ties of friendship, and youthful 
hopes, and useful life, and promising talents, 
and a solemn consecration of them to the cause 
of Christ, could not save him from an early 
grave. When it was suddenly announced in 
the chapel that " Ralph I. Brown is no more," 
we were all solemnly impressed with the moni- 
tory example of the uncertainty of life, and the 
frailty of youth. You know what high expec- 
tations and what glowing hopes he had cherish- 
ed, and how they have all been withered in an 
hour. I trust we were all disposed to convert 
this solemn event to a profound consideration of 
the hand of God." 



The following is an extract of a letter from 
Willam Rhodes, Esq. of Pawtuxet, who, with 
all the kind friends of that village, watched at 
the bedside of our brother in his sickness and 
death, and administered to his necessities all 
that the hand of friendship and piety could be- 
stow. Their kindness is deeply engraven on 
the hearts of surviving friends, and registered in 
heaven : 

" Rev. Mr. Miner, 
Dear Sir, 
I highly approve of your undertaking in pub- 
lishing the Memoirs of my late worthy young 
friend, R. I. Brown. Very seldom, if ever, 
have I found so worthy, so deserving a young 
man ; one who valued himself only for his use- 
fulness to others — so mild and unassuming, yet 
firm and energetic. Such confidence in passing 
from this world to another and better one, I 
never saw evinced by any man before. I could 
say much, very much, on his various qualifier 
k5 



116 MEMOIR OF 

lions and virtues, but have not time at present. 
Believe me your friend, 

William Rhodes. 

Wednesday Morning, July 18, 1835." 



We promised to allude again to the place 
of his burial. In the winter after his death, his 
remains were removed from the tomb in Paw- 
tuxet, where they w r ere at first deposited, to the 
family burial place. This is situated, as it was 
before remarked, near the spot where our bro* 
ther in his boyhood engaged in his youthful 
sports. We had the melancholy pleasure the 
next spring of placing the green turf on the 
grave, which contained " all that was mortal," 
of one of the kindest friends and most devoted 
Christians. It was an hour never to be forgot- 
ten ; one well calculated to impress the mind 
with the uncertainty of the things of earth, and 
our constant exposure to the shafts of death. 
A short time before, our brother was in health, 
and as we have seen, surrounded by the fairest 
prospect of long life and eminent usefulness. 
But even then he thought of death. When a 
young lady , at the time of his last visit to North 
Stonington, said to him as they parted " When 
shall* I see you again, Ralph?" he replied 



RALPH 1. BROWN. I IT 

" Perhaps not till we meet in the day of judg- 
ment" His anticipation was right — they have 
not since met, nor will they meet till that 

" Amazing period ! when each mountain height 
Out-burns Vesuvius; rocks eternal pour 
Their melted mass, as rivers once they pour'd ; 
Stars rush ; and final ruin fiercely drives 
Her ploughshare o'er creation !" 

While we placed the sward upon the grave, 
ve thought of our blasted hopes and disappoint- 
id anticipations, and the momentary melancholy 
yas heightened by the setting sun, the shades 
if evening, the murmuring waterfall, and the 
;laintive notes of the birds in their evening song. 
ill seemed to remind us of the night of death, 
Then the sun sets for the last time, and the 
darkness that comes over us is the " shadow of 
cath." But O, the gloom was momentary — 
i was dispelled by the sentiment so feelingly 
repressed by the poet : 

" Why should I fear my dying day, 
Since Christ hath took my guilt away ; 
And taught me with my latest breath, 
To triumph o'er thy terrors, Death ?" 

We rejoiced in the reflection that it was the 
body only which slept in dust ; the soul had 
winged its way to heaven, and was singing in 
k5 



IIS MEMOIR, kc. 

holy rapture with the angels and (i spirits of just 
men made perfect." And 

" There, O my brother ! may 1 meet thee there. 
Where not thy presence can improve my bliss." 



Mr. Brown from the commencement of ins 
ministry had preached one hundred and twenty- 
five times. In his preaching he endeavored in 
simplicity to present the truths of God, as 
should be most likely savingly to affect his hear- 
ers. When on one of his visits to Connecticut, 
some one asked him concerning the Rev. Mr. 

, a gentleman celebrated as a great, but 

not a successful preacher ; his reply was, 
c< He is preaching great ser*nons and starving 
his people." 

We have selected the following outlines of a 
sermon, not as a fair specimen of his preaching 
talents, but because they seem most suitable for 
the close of this work : 

Gen. iii : 19. — " Dust thou art, and unto 
dust shalt thou return" 

You are all familiar with the history of our 
first parents. When fresh from the hands of 
their Creator, they were placed in the garden of 
Eden, the loveliest spot of earth. Here they 
might have enjoyed uninterrupted felicity had 
they obeyed God. But they ate the forbidden 



120 SERMON. 

fruit. " Sin entered the world, and death by 
sin»" From that period to the present, disease 
and death have triumphed over all our race. — 
Our text is a part of the curse denounced on 
man in consequence of his transgression. The 
subject which I have selected, will, doubtless, 
be regarded as gloomy, and many are disposed 
to turn away from the contemplation of it. The 
young, especially, would rather look at the 
bright side of the picture. — It is said of Philip, 
the father of Alexander the Great, that he em- 
ployed a servant to wake him every morning 
with the exclamation, "Philip, thou art mor- 
tal!" It is well for us to look forward to the 
termination of our lives, to fix our thoughts upon 
the solemnities of a dying hour. It may lead 
us " so to number our days, that we may apply 
our hearts unto wisdom." It is recorded of 
Xerxes the Great, that when from an eminence 
he surveyed his three millions of soldiers, and 
reflected that in a less time than one hundred 
years they all would be in their graves, he wept. 
And it is truly melancholy to know, that in a few 
years all who are now before me will have their 
names erased from the number of the living and 
enrolled on the long catalogue of the dead. We 
invite your attention to a few reflections upoR 
this subject. 

I. Death is universal. 



SERMON. 121 

Other evils may be partial. Famines, earth- 
quakes or epidemics may affect only certain 
portions of the human family. Not so with 
death. Partial to none, all must fall before his 
scythe. As we trace back the history of the 
past, we learn of two only, Enoch and Elijah, 
who have escaped. There is no eluding now 
the grasp of death. We may combat success- 
fully other enemies, but who can retard the 
approach or resist the power of " the king of 
terrors ?" 

II. Death produces the most humiliating ef- 
fects upon the body. 

Upon this I need only make a passing remark. 
How affecting, as we look upon our friends, as 
we see their countenances flushed with health, 
their eyes sparkling with beauty, to reflect that 
in a short time those bodies must lie in the 
grave, mouldering back to dust. That in a short 
time we must exchange the costly dress for the 
shroud, the splendid mansion for the coffin and 
the grave. 

It is said of the late Judge Pierpont Edwards, 
of Connecticut, that in the height of his popu- 
larity he used to go to the grave-yard and weep 
to think he must soon lie there in all the humil- 
iating corruptions of the dead. And can we boast 
of our fine persons ? Let us remember the worm 
will soon be nestling in our shroud, 



1*22 SKRMON. 

III. Death frequently is sudden in his ap- 
proach . 

Sometimes be gives warning by protracted 
sickness. But at other times be comes unex- 
pectedly and suddenly. The reflection arises 
here, how important that ive be at all times 
ready ! Let him come in youth or old age, in 
sickness, or when the pulse beats high with ex- 
pectation, we may be prepared. 

IV. Death makes no distinction in his victims. 
He enters the mansions of the great and gay. 

as well as the cottage of the poor. Wealth can- 
not bribe him, nor the splendid palace close its 
doors against him. Nor does he direct his ar- 
rows only at the aged and infirm. Often those 
robust forms which seem to bid defiance to death, 
wither at his approach. He tears away the 
youth of promise from the fond and doting pa- 
rent. He is unmoved by tears, entreaties and 
prayers. Many often plead for one hour's res- 
pite, but plead in vain. 

V. Death ends the probationary state of man. 
Life is the only season of preparation for 

eternity. After death it will be said, a he that 
is holy, let him be holy still ; and he 'that is fil- 
thy, let him be filthy still." On life's feeble 
tenure hangs our eternal destiny. 

VI. Death ends the happiness and hopes of 
the sinner. 






SERMON. 123 

* Son/ 3 said Abraham to the rich man, " son, 
remember thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy 
good things." Alas ! many are receiving all 
their good things in their lifetime. Death to 
such is an unwelcome visiter. It not only ends 
the sinner's enjoyment, but his hopes. " While 
life prolongs its precious light/' there is hope 
for the sinner. Is he in adversity, he may look 
forward to a brighter day. But when he dies, 
hope departs forever. What must be the situ- 
ation of a soul without hope ! This undying 
worm, this unquenchable fire, these eternal pains. 
Such will be the thoughts that will crowd upon 
the spirit. No hope shall light up his dying eye ; 
but despair shall settle down upon his soul, and 
he be left to feel out his melancholy way 
through the regions of mourning, lamentation 
and wo. 

VII. Death will end the sorrows of the right- 
eous. 

In the world they have tribulation. Friends 
prove treacherous. The howling storm of ad- 
versity often beats upon them. They are per- 
secuted by the ungodly ; but death releases 
them from all their troubles, all their toils. To 
them, 

" Death is tlie gate to micllcss joy 



124 SERMON. 

Remarks. 

1. Christians have powerful motives to bear 
up against afflictions, opposition, &c. 

2. Sinners should tremble lest they receive 
all their good things in this life. They should 
be alarmed at the near approach of death, and 
seize the present moment to make their peace 
with God. 



CONTENTS. 



Page 
Introduction, .... . . .5 

CHAPTER I. 

Introductory Remarks — His Birth-Place — His Con- 
version — Habits of Study, &c. ... 7 

CHAPTER II. 

From the age of sixteen to the time of his leaving 
Hamilton, to take charge of the Young Ladies' 
Seminary at Pawtuxet, . . . . .17 

CHAPTER III. 

From the time he left Hamilton till his death. — 
Remarks, &c. . . .... 94 

Sermon, 119 



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